Broken oil pan Bolt

[GotBronco-itus?]

So I was taking off the oil pan on my 302 and one of the bolts snapped off, its real small and I was wondering what is the best way to take it out? using an easy out or?

 

[littlezell]

is there any of it sticking out??? and um how much room you got to play with?

 

[GotBronco-itus?]

Its not even sticking out a little, and the engine is out on a stand

 

[doorgunner]

well....use a center-punch to mark the middle of the bolt to help the drill(bit) start drilling easier.......if you could get a left-handed drill(bit)--it might back out the rest of the broken bolt while you are drilling a hole in it for the easy out to fit in!

 

[GotBronco-itus?]

Thanks for the help! Im going to get the left threaded bits and easy out with in the next few days.

 

[adsm08]

Do you know why it broke?

I have had some success removing broken bolts by drilling a hole about 1/2 to 3/4 (depending on bolt size) or the bolt's diameter and then pounding the next sized torx bit into the hole. The points dig in and grab and will work better than most easy-out setups.


Be careful though, it doesn't work well on off-centered holes and it doesn't work at all on rusted together stuff or crossed threads, and if you snap a torx bit off in there you are done. It takes special machinist bits to drill through them.