What size Allen socket for head bolts?

[Dattebayo]

If any of you know, what metric size Allen socket do I need for the head bolts that attach the head to the block for CA18DET?

Please help soon, i need to have this thing off tomorrow and the FSM does not tell which size is needed. None of mine work.

[c-rad]

10mm. But, a tip of advice, if you get the craftsman, use a hammer and slam the head down into the socket. I know they have a warranty on the sockets, but I've seriously broken like 4 of them so far and it's a PITA running back to Sears in the middle of removing the head. On this last one, I just hammered it down so the head sticks out about 1/2" and it works great.

[Dattebayo]

So let me get this straight.

I have to hammer the socket into the bolt head to keep it from snapping? What kind of crap is this?

[RMiller]

I don't know what the hammering is about. The allen socket I used was 3/8" drive, which allows it to clear the cams. Everything is straight forward. Make sure you remove the bolts in the correct order. Some locations have the socket hitting the cams, but rotating the cams slightly fixes this.

[Dattebayo]

OKAY! I will have to try tomorrow cause the stores are closed, but here goes anyway.

Thanks to you all.

[c-rad]

No...you don't hammer the socket into the head bolt...

Okay, if you look at the socket when you get it, you will see that the head of the socket sticks out about 3/4". It puts a lot of stress on that small shaft and it snaps pretty easily. I just hammered it down so the shaft on the socket is a little shorter so it puts less stress on it.

[Dattebayo]

OKay, you hammered the bit down into the socket, i get it.

But I cant seem to get #3 on the sequence off with a large size ratchet... I think I might have to get a breaker bar to get it off. Would anybody recommend something stronger or different? I dont have a compressor yet.

[Dattebayo]

accidentally posted, sorry!

[knightrider]

i dont know about craftsman, but most high end allen sockets have a set screw so that you can replace the allen tip, also, matco tools website sells the tips, get a 10mm one for like 6 bucks, and put it into your favorite 10 mm socket, and viola. alot cheaper than buying the whole set, or individually. you should definetly have a good breaker bar with a lifetime warranty, and a good 1/2 and 3/8 torque wrench handy for tearing apart a motor. borrow them from your local parts store, most times its free, you just pay for the tool, and you get your money back when you return it.

[float_6969]

LMAO! I didn't use an allen socket. I used a regular allen wrench and a breaker bar. I guess that means I'm a stud, right?

[fallen180sx]

its a 10mm hex, 4.99$ at autozone

[Pumaking]

damn boy $4.99 got mine for $4.83 :P

[fallen180sx]

haha, sweet!

[Dattebayo]

I bought a 1/2" x 24" breaker bar from craftsman today and all should be well, I hope none of you have had an issue with breaking these head bolts.

They look very strong, but has it happened to anybody yet?

[RMiller]

You could just use an allen wrench and breaker bar to get the bolt off, but you still have to torque them back on with a torque wrench. He is a stud though.

[float_6969]

I went back with ARP headstuds, so I didn't have to worry about re-torqueing with the allen. That's why I didn't buy the socket. It doesn't really matter though, I'm still a stud. A stud with a bad-azz CA that runs like crap cuz PVC intercooler piping leaks and MAF systems don't like leaks. What the shizit is that?