So my latest hot off the press screw up, I am reinstalling the valve covers and I snugged up the bolts and then set my torque wrench at 17 inch pounds and proceeded to snap off the head of the first bolt I tightened. It must have been tighter than the setting on the wrench I'm guessing and wrench never clicked and I messed up again. Live and learn. At 68 years old I probably learned and forgot that one, discouraging. Anyway does anyone have the thread specs for those bolts? At least it's an accessible location. I never have luck with extractors, thinking I'll just drill minor diameter hole and rethread it carefully. And any suggestions on where to get a bolt, no dealerships nearby. I saw one for $.067 at a dealership but $10 shipping. Wondering if I can do better. So I need thread size for rocker cover bolts and a bolt. Thanks!

Looks like it's M6 x 1.00 with a 5 mm drill hole for threading. I'm still looking into whether I should try to remove the broken bolt or just drill and tap and hope I don't cross thread the head.
Any experts on this job?

If they came out clean the first time then there's no reason to think they'll be buggered just because they broke. I'd try an easy-out.

Yeah thanks that's what I decided to try first. Bought this too to get the hole as centered as I can. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000 ... UTF8&psc=1 It's really frustrating, all I had to do was tighten the bolts and I was finished. Using the manual for sequence and torque. Oh well I just hope all is good once I get finished with all of this. If not that would be depressing.

With valve covers, consistent torque matters much more than absolute torque. I usually use the finger method, one finger with a short 1/4" ratchet. Check with an in-lb wrench and you'll find they all come out very close.

Hmmmmmmm. I need a right angle drill or such to get to the broken bolt, it's accessible without breaking my back but not enough clearance for my drill motor. I will look into your method. I didn't get an OEM valve cover but what I have seemed to fit ok. It's annoying that the spark plug tube seals are built into the cover.

I use one of these, Harbor Freight, $20:

https://www.harborfreight.com/power-too ... 69337.html

Or you can get a flex extension like this, Amazon, $24. I used to own a similar one but I'm not sure what became of it:

https://www.amazon.com/Eyech-0-3-6-5mm- ... NH58&psc=1

This is arriving tomorrow, thinking I might do some practice holes first. Hopefully it works

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VY ... UTF8&psc=1

schuylkill wrote: ↑

Sat May 15, 2021 5:30 pm

This is arriving tomorrow, thinking I might do some practice holes first. Hopefully it works

That should work fine, it's just hex drive instead of drill shank. You'll need hex-shank drill bits, but other than that it's better because you can use it with either tool, drill or driver. You're right to practice first, they can be awkward. Using a tool with a trigger-lock will make things easier as well.

Yeah thanks that's what I decided to try first. Bought this too to get the hole as centered as I can. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000 ... UTF8&psc=1 It's really frustrating, all I had to do was tighten the bolts and I was finished. Using the manual for sequence and torque. Oh well I just hope all is good once I get finished with all of this. If not that would be depressing.

I have this. Going to use a left handed drill bit in it.

Got it out no problem, imagine that.

schuylkill wrote: ↑

Sun May 16, 2021 2:30 pm

Got it out no problem, imagine that.