I was replacing my head gasket and I noticed the screws to bolt on the head were extremely hard to take off. (I'm guessing the previous owner's shop did this) I had to use an impact gun to remove the bolt on the right but the one on the left got stripped. Any recommendations on how to remove this? I don't want to use a screw extractor set but I may have to if nothing else works.

I've tried the following and couldn't get it out.
- Starbit
- Smaller Hex with Paper Towel
- IRWIN BOLT-GRIP 5-Pack Bolt Extractor Set (this doesn't have enough room to fit because of the head)

 

lightly tap an oversized bit in

or

use a chuck on an extension and chuck the head of the bolt

or

remove the air box, put locking vice pliers on it.

or

cutting wheel, cut a slit in the head, hit it with penetrating oil, then remove with flathead
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Have you loosened the head bolts yet?
All needs to be loosened in sequence starting with those front ones, if you forgot about them maybe you need to tighten up the others to relieve some pressure from the front ones.

 

I haven't loosened the head bolts yet. I thought you had loosen them after you remove the two front bolts. Thanks for the tips everybody.

 

maybe throw some heat on the aluminum- the Al will expand more than the metal Allen head. They try to extract. I wouldn't loosen any head bolts until I tried everything else.

good luck and keep us posted.
darcy

 

that is a low torque bolt, a good sized vice grip will take that off without much effort, just clamp it on good and tight and give it a firm quick push to snap it loose. It should be quite easy to remove that way.