Register now to get rid of these ads!

Help! broken bellhousing bolt

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Devin, Dec 29, 2012.

  1. Devin
    Joined: Dec 28, 2004
    Posts: 2,411

    Devin
    Member
    from Napa, CA

  2. CTaulbert
    Joined: Apr 8, 2007
    Posts: 1,337

    CTaulbert
    Member
    from Detroit

    The bolts are only there to provide a clamp load. The clamp load is what prevents the engine and transmission from moving relative to each other. The bolts do not transfer the torque from the engine to the transmission. The moment the clamp load reduces, you'll shear the bolts.

    Long story short, it really doesn't matter what grade of fastener you use, as long as you can achieve the proper clamp load with them.
     
  3. bobscogin
    Joined: Feb 8, 2007
    Posts: 1,794

    bobscogin
    Member

    The bellhousing dowels will prevent the bolts from taking the shear load.

    Bob
     
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2012
  4. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 24,476

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Dude, it happens, to all of us. I have lost track of the number of stuck/broken fasteners I have had to remove.

    You learned. Now you have a new skill. The day was not wasted.
     
  5. Halfdozen
    Joined: Mar 8, 2008
    Posts: 631

    Halfdozen
    Member

    Bingo. Grade eight bolts are stronger in tensile and shear strength than a grade five (or lower) bolt. They are still ductile, they are tough, not hard and brittle. Grade eight might be overkill here, but it won't hurt to use a higher grade bolt. A grade five will break at a lower torque if you bottom it in a blind hole.
     
  6. Devin
    Joined: Dec 28, 2004
    Posts: 2,411

    Devin
    Member
    from Napa, CA

    Quite true! Thanks


    Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
     
  7. 55 dude
    Joined: Jun 19, 2006
    Posts: 9,357

    55 dude
    Member

    i work on machines that are stainless steel and once in awhile somebody puts in a stainless bolt that ends up galling the threads and they break off the bolt. i have found using a dremel tool with small carbide bit to put slot in broken off bolt then a little heat with a screwdriver will usually get the broken part out. the process is slow as can be and i use this on regular steel bolts also.
     
  8. Commish
    Joined: Jan 9, 2010
    Posts: 379

    Commish
    Member
    from NW Ok

    No, they are not brittle, and may not be required, but perfectly acceptable to use. A little overkill never hurt anything in that kind of situation.
     
  9. greg
    Joined: Dec 5, 2006
    Posts: 537

    greg
    Member

    I just had a guy at work do the exact same thing. After he threw the water on it he worked it back and forth easily and got them out. It amazed me how that worked!
     
  10. Truckedup
    Joined: Jul 25, 2006
    Posts: 4,660

    Truckedup
    Member

    No argument on using a grade 8 for the bell housing....But..I believe that when Lakewood scatter shield bell housings first came around they included grade 5 bolts and a disclaimer or maybe NHRA rule not to use grade 8 because they would break too easily from a flywheel explosion.Anyone ever hear this?
     
  11. willowbilly3
    Joined: Jun 18, 2004
    Posts: 4,356

    willowbilly3
    Member Emeritus
    from Sturgis

    Left hand drill bits and drill guides are almost always my first choice, not after it is all buggered up from other butchery. Some guys claim the welding on a nut trick works but I NEVER had that work, ever and then you have a mess.
    Any good hardware store should have left hand bits.
     
  12. Bigchuck
    Joined: Oct 23, 2007
    Posts: 1,159

    Bigchuck
    Member
    from Austin, TX

    "Time-sert" is another option. They work very well.
     
  13. no.scar.no.story
    Joined: May 6, 2012
    Posts: 325

    no.scar.no.story
    Member

    I did service work for while on some industial equipment. A guy I worked with there would remove a bolt that was broken off below flush by welding a piece of steel tubing to the end of the broken bolt. He stuck the welding rod down the inside of the tube while holding the tube in the hole against the end of the bolt. The tubing made the new "handle" for turning the bolt and protected the threads from the weld splatter, etc. Turned it out with a small pipe wrench. Worked like a charm for Charlie.
     
  14. Bud Reynolds
    Joined: Oct 12, 2011
    Posts: 69

    Bud Reynolds
    Member

    Thanks Greg for verifying this. You have to see it to believe it. Apparently the stud cools faster than the manifold, shrinking just enough to break loose.
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.