Broken exhaust manifold bolts what now?

[Slimsilverado]

Ok so after pulling the stock manifolds I have 2 broken head bolts from the factory. The front bolt on the driver side is broken off thank god the shank is still poking out of the head, i might actually be able to get some vise grips on it. But the other bolt is the read bolt on the passanger side, yes the most pain in the ass bolt out of the whole bunch. As soon as i put the slightest amount of pressure on it the damn thing broke. SO how in the hell am i suppose to get this damn thing out of the head, its in the back where you cant get a drill or anything else in there. Do i pull off the head? if so i might as well freaking put my other heads, on and buy a fugging cam to go with it. This is really pissing me off.. Any advise guys......... Looks like I will not make it to the SAR meet at the rate im going which is backwards...... If i do a cam swap imma need some help to make sure i do this damn thing correctly.......

[GasGuzzler]

You can get it out in a day with some help. It takes some weird tools and some experience....and odd combinations of both sometimes.

Please tell me you don't really have broken head bolts....

[skeet]

well if you were closer i'd help ya, do you have the cam? if so you might as well pull the head, take it to a machine shop and have them extract it, if you dont wanna take any chances on messing the head up ...

[Slimsilverado]

My bad it is exhaust manifold bolts not head bolts. I have an extra set of heads sitting on the shelf with new springs, just gotta go get a valve job done... But if i pull then whole upper end of the motor off might as well put in a cam????????

[GasGuzzler]

Well.....the top doesn't have to come off an LS to change cams...just the front. But the intake takes 9 minutes to remove so pulling the head now that the manifold is off won't take long. 10 long and 5 short head bolts.

[Slimsilverado]

i hear ya GG just thinking if imma do all this other stuff to the engine now might as well throw a cam in her while im at this crap... ALWAYS SOMETHING

[GasGuzzler]

Yes, I would do it all at once.

[1BADC10]

bolt extractor tools from a place like Harbor Freight are INEXPENSIVE, and work GREAT. I bought a longblock that has three snapped header bolts still in the head. I have a kit to remove 'em.

[Wtfan18]

just bite the bullet and do your cam swap and **** now. your going to want to do it anyways. might as well have it for SAR and have some fun with the truck! it really wont take you that long to do a cam swap and such! get a buddy take a weekend and youll be set to go! and happier in the end. good luck bud!

[99sierra4x4]

ITS WAY EASIER THAN YOU THINK....

I had the same thing, broke off right at the head, and was on the passenger side rear. Borrow a welder and weld onto the end of the bolt, you will most likely have to do it a couple times. but then you can turn it out with a vice grips. i attached a picture of it below. Hope it helps.