

| Subject: | seized bolts |
| From: | William |
| Date: | Mon, 21 May 2012 21:51:17 -0600 |
I recently removed the waterpump and thermostat housing from my 1984 vanagon only to find the gasket between the hose flange and the housing to be bulging and leaking. When I attempted to remove one of the 6mm bolts, I broke the head off the bolt. I thought my only option now was to break off the other bolt head, remove the hose flange, remove the gasket, and soak the threads with Sea Foam. I applied Sea Foam twice a day for a week. I thought now the bolts may move slightly so make more paths for the penetrating oil. I put a small vise-grip on the bolt stub but the bolt did _not_ move. I do not want to apply so much torque to twist off the bolt stub. I tried turning clockwise. Nothing. I tried turning counter-clockwise. Nothing. I tried freezing the entire housing with the vise-grip attached and then heating just the aluminum housing around the bolt with a propane torch. No movement. I tried many small impact taps on the bolt stub. No movement. I read on-line somewhere three important steps when removing seized bolts: 1) Be patient. 2) Be very patient. 3) Be extremely patient. My next trick is to spray the bolt with super coolant to make it contract. I assume the local napa will have something environmentally friendly. What am I forgetting? I am open to any and all suggestions to remove the seized bolts. Does anyone have a spare used water pump thermostat housing laying around you want to sell? Attached is a photo of my poor tortured housing. -- William grateful@nmia.com 505 440 0760 Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. -Will Rogers
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