broken bolt in front of motor

[Lorna c]

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I broke this bolt off trying to tighten it down .
if I were to drive it for a while without fixing it , will it hurt anything ?
it's down by the timing marker pointer in front of motor . I believe the timing chain and gears are under there .. ? it doesn't look like fun to get to .

[Gregs672000]

Looks like a front cover bolt. Nothing will fly off, and the gasket probably won't start to leak immedialty, so driving it for a bit should not be a big deal. That said, it should be removed and replaced. If it's broken off below the cover, you may need an "easy out" to remove it... that consists of a drill bit, a hard steel bit and maybe a T-handle that allows you twist the easy out into the hole as you turn it like you are removing the bolt (it has reverse threads so it drills deeper into the broken bolt as you turn it to the left) until it bites enough to grab the bolt and then allowing you to remove it. TAKE YOUR TIME. Easy outs can break, especially at the tip, and you end up leaving a hardens steel spot in the broken bolt that will not drill out. If the bolt is still above the cover, you might try a good set of vice grips to see if you can grab it and remove.

[fj20spl311]

It looks to have broken at the block. Its going to be a bear to remove, best to pull the engine or at least the cover.
Its unlikely that it will leak oil, so plug the hole with a cork or RTV and see if it leaks.

[mraitch]

Lorna, don't think you will actually have to remove the engine, but it's a bugger - since you have to remove the big bolt at the front of the crankshaft and that's not an easy job.

But its the oonly way to get the cover off.

I certainly would NOT take the chance of using an ez-out with the cover on (for the reasons mentioned below).

So as Phil suggests, see if it leakc and put it on your list for downtime.

[Lorna c]

oh God, thank goodness . yeah looks like a bugger . I've broken able tough that sinks into the alternator , three times already .now I finally have the right bolt in that won't break. oh and breaking off an easy out tip . yep done that too . yeah you can't drill through those ... haha . and I've drilled one out the oil pan up between the firewall and pan . had a loong drill bit and an hour of time and almost got it .. haha no I got it but how fun it was. and the radiator has to come out for this minimum . not wanting to do that again . again .again. I'll be taking out my frankenheader in a while sometime kinda soon to patch any blowholes it has . soot is making me believe it's leaking somewhere . not sure if it's a new hole in my defected part from my 9month old header or a seam I welded is blown . but figured I can get my carbs all closed up tighter on the intake or something . . something is leaking in that area somewhere ... . but I'll hit that bolt then .. THANK YOU FOR THE INFO . BIG TIME . NOW I can chill and enjoy this weird paint I have ... hahah live it now though . now all even and looking good ... represent roadsters ! haha

[Lorna c]

love it now though . not live it .. typo

[mraitch]

Lorna.
trust gaskets. if you compress them too much. they leak,
in the tech wki there are a lot of torque specs. be present to them, before you make them up.

[Lorna c]

Lorna.
trust gaskets. if you compress them too much. they leak,
in the tech wki there are a lot of torque specs. be present to them, before you make them up.

yeah . I even bought one of those digital things that tells you the torque you're wrenching . . I've never used it . hummmmmm time to pull that baby out and get familiar with it ..
and as long as a gear isn't going to fall off or something ok . break time . I need a break from this car . and yeah . the way everything comes loose on me I can torque my hardest too. but it shouldn't have broke that easy . anyway , dang it , it's usually my fault causing my extra extra and extra work on it too . . poor car . . . poor next owner .. hahahaha

[Lorna c]

ok so while the cars down I'm getting.to this broken bolt now . pulled the rad and trying to drill it out now . haha fun fun . I need a scope camera . so my phone doesn't have to try to get in there and film it for me to see .. still barely enough room for the drill but it'll fit now . taking some video to see what's up and going back in . ugh hope that gaskets shows up soon or I'll have this whole motor pulled out.. haha

[Lorna c]

Lorna.
trust gaskets. if you compress them too much. they leak,
in the tech wki there are a lot of torque specs. be present to them, before you make them up.

gaskets I trust , my tightness I don't ..

[mraitch]

lorna
I trust you are using easy outs to get the bolt out.
you really can't drill it out without screwing up the threads

[Lorna c]

lorna
I trust you are using easy outs to get the bolt out.
you really can't drill it out without screwing up the threads

yeah , I'm finding that out . . and
I don't think that is what was leaking either . I got in there better and saw this . what is this ? . I don't think I messed up the threading . I didn't do it enough to . although I did to the others I've gotten out this seems to want to get caught up in the threading more and I saw that coming and stopped .

[Lorna c]

you don't even know two pieces come together until they leak sometimes . haha

[mraitch]

Lorna,

A suggestion for you and many others that post pix

Post a LARGER pespective so we have an idea where you are and then post a more specific one.

I have looked at your post and I have NO IDEA where you are!

2 pennys

[spl310]

This is going to sound odd, but bear with me. If the bolt broke with a smooth face, then the conventional drilling/easy outs will be needed. If it has a ragged edge, try gently putting a flat blade screwdriver in the hole and unscrewing it. I have been fortunate a time or to and had that work. I would not get rough with it, but you can tell if it is going to work pretty quickly.