Broken Air Cleaner Assembly Bolt

Put the taco back together today under a deadline and got a little careless...snapped the front bolt to the air cleaner assembly (stole pic from the great red arrow throttle cleaning walkthrough).

Got about a 1/4 inch of bolt sticking out. Going to see if I get lucky and can remove with vise grips tomorrow. Hoping that works because I'm nervous about drilling it out considering where its stuck. Has anyone else drilled one out here? Doesn't seem like a huge deal to drive around like this for a bit so feel like I have some time to see if anyone has done this and has any best practices.

 

I wouldn't drill it out. I think there are other ways.
Can you notch it and then back it out with a flat head screwdriver?

 

If you have pics of what you are working with, that may help.

 

Oh yeah....
You gorilla.


Go easy on them bolts next time.

 

Good point...1/4 was a little optimistic now that I look again I think

Pics are below.

 

Okay. You still have options.

 

I think you have enough meat on that to work with.

 

I would try to notch it with a dremel or a hack saw, obviously being careful of the block. Getting that air intake assembly would make it a hell of a lot easier. As I am sure you already know.

 

You were putting it back together when it snapped too huh?
Would make it in there pretty good.

 

@tacobell007 What do you think of this situation?

 

Ugh yeah, so I had my 10mm on my torque wrench after putting on the throttle body and just sort of picked it up without thinking after hand tightening it as much as I could gave it a good twist and off it went. I was actually shocked it broke so easy. Going to try dremel!

 

Heat up the area with a propane torch, try backing it out with vise grips, if not that then notch and use a flat head, or impact screw driver

 

Lots of penetrating oil of your choice .

let it soak

vice grips work it out nice and slow.

I wonder did you get the wrong bolt and it bottomed out and snapped??

 

How'd ya make out OP?

 

100% the correct bolt, I was shocked it snapped....

Quite well! I was nervous about putting a torch to the top of the block there so went with @Wyoming09 advice first as Plan A. Ended up spraying a bit in the morning and evening, let it sit a night, took my time to get the perfect lock on the sheared end, and slowly broke it loose. Once it was loose it was a piece of cake--no drilling, no torch. Was real anxious about this when it first happened because it was right there in the engine but ended up being no biggie. Appreciate the insight and help

 

Glad you got it out .

Now why did it snap ??



The ones that snap below the surface are frustrating .

Hard bolt soft aluminum the drill bit always wants to slide off the bolt into the aluminum .