Repairing Broken Valve cover bolt..worth it?

[atvkid4eva]

while replacing my intake manifold gasket i had to remove the valve covers so i figured that i would replace those gaskets as well...the drivers side has a bolt broken off inside the block from the previous owner over tightening it...my question is should i try and drill the center out with a tiny drill bit then use an easy out and attempt to remove it? or should i just let it be and hope it seals around the missing bolt? any other ways to get the broken bolt out?

 

[Area 52]

No other method to remove that I know of than what you describe. And you definitely want to remove it otherwise the oil leak will continue which I'm sure it has been all along. Also, the valve cover lip is probably pretty warped too if the PO broke off the bolt. Hammer it back into shape then use Felpro Permadry gaskets...expensive but worth it.

 

[IMenriched]

while replacing my intake manifold gasket i had to remove the valve covers so i figured that i would replace those gaskets as well...the drivers side has a bolt broken off inside the block from the previous owner over tightening it...my question is should i try and drill the center out with a tiny drill bit then use an easy out and attempt to remove it? or should i just let it be and hope it seals around the missing bolt? any other ways to get the broken bolt out?

I got a set of those extractor drill bits from sears...(their left handed )comes like in set of 4 of various sizes. Ya put in a cordless drill and make sure the drill is turning the correct direction for the bit to grap and it backs it out...super slick. only goes in about 1/8" er so....well worth the price. if it is real bad turn it over and there is a wedge bit the is designed for the short drill bit. most times the drill side does the trick.

took this to work and work well there too (small machine shop)...managed to get some pretty tough bolts out. now I just got get a set back at home so I don't have to remember to bring it from work

 

[atvkid4eva]

so the extractor bit is all in one? you dont have to drill a hole in the broken bolt first then use the extractor? it drills and extracts the bolt? interesting...might have to take a trip to sears.

 

[IMenriched]

so the extractor bit is all in one? you dont have to drill a hole in the broken bolt first then use the extractor? it drills and extracts the bolt? interesting...might have to take a trip to sears.

Yes it is "all in one"
one end is the very short left handed drill bit and turn it over and is the serrated edge wedge also left handed.

you do drill into the broken bolt but not very far...1/8"-1/4" er so...the drill bit being LH often is enough bite and work it out.

Grab-bit I think is another similar name , but not necessarily what sears goes by.

 

[atvkid4eva]

well i went to sears this morning and those bit are cool but they arent sold seperately...and they are EXPENSIVE for the set like $40 so im just going to add some heat (which should be alright i think?) then drill a tiny hole and use a traditional easy out which is basically what they sell at sears except there is "all in one"...