One more PITA overcome

[joshhol]

This 4.5 cylinder head project just goes on and on, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. The most recent hurdle was a broken head bolt that was stuck in the block. I drilled it and then tried to use a screw extractor, but that broke off in the block too. Subsequent drillings ruined bits left and right. The technique to get it out involved Liquid Wrench, an 1/8th inch pin punch and tapping the bolt at an angle with the punch and hammer counterclockwise to turn the bolt out. It worked.
The other scary part is the metal flaking from the drilling process.

[psfred]

I guess I should just start with that when I go to remove the one I have with a broken off cap, eh?

Peter

[joshhol]

Don't try the cheeso screw extractor from your local hardware store, the guy at the machine shop said those always break. He said drilling with succesively larger bits was the way to go, but "my" way seemed like it would be faster.
Peter, if the cap is broken off, you might try a different technique since much of the bolt will be exposed above the block surface. . ?

[psfred]

Josh:

The head is still on. Bolt head fell out when I changed the valve cover gasket last year.

I don't plan to remove the heads any time soon -- I'll swap the entire engine if I have head trouble, since the block is cracked anyway and held together with JB Weld.

Peter

[WANT '71 280SEL]

Have you had to refresh the J.B. weld since you originally put it on there? How long have you had the 280?
Thanks
David

[psfred]

David:

The JB Weld cracked on the large cracks at the top of the valley. I'm going to re-enforce it with aluminum screen wire next time and leave much more on there, I only left a thin coat originally. Just seeps enough to smell, doesn't seem to intefere with cooling.

I bought it in June two years ago, I think (or was it three?)

Peter

[WANT '71 280SEL]

So how did you manage to get it for $50 though? They have anymore?
Thanks
David

[psfred]

It was sitting at my friend's shop, waiting for the tow truck to take it to the dump. They would only give the owner $50 for it, so I bought if for the same price.

You don't want one at that price, I'm into it for about $2000 already, and it still needs a lot of interior work, a new exhaust, a proper block repair, heater valves, and body work.

Peter

[cth350]

drive a truck out to Long Island, take home an engine and a complete, servicable, but not perfect green or black or baby blue interior. The green & black are tex. The blue one is a some sort of factory vinyl. The Blue one is quite unusual, since it's a front bench seat. -CTH

[Tomguy]

Originally posted by psfred
You don't want one at that price, I'm into it for about $2000 already, and it still needs a lot of interior work, a new exhaust, a proper block repair, heater valves, and body work.

I'll second that one! If mine wasn't "Free" I'd be pissed too! (My parents bought it in '89 but I think they got their money's worth, it was sitting outside our house on blocks for ages with a broken lower control arm).

I don't want to know how much I've spent on mine. A quick estimate for tires, eBay/PayPal totals, and parts from mbz.org and FastLane is over $1300

Still need a new timing chain, engine and subframe mounts, body work, and a paint job!

Why am I so addicted to this gashog moneypit? The commercials are right - it must be love!

[j9fd3s]

Originally posted by Tomguy

Why am I so addicted to this gashog moneypit? The commercials are right - it must be love!

i like it because its a vintage car that doesnt drive like one. my dad has a 95 320e, and it feels the same to drive, pretty much.

and the doors make that klunk

and it smells like leather, and horsehaar

and you're touching real wood, real leather and chrome

i havent tasted it yet, i'll let you know

[Tomguy]

Tastes like iron oxide!