Cant get bolts to break loose to change thermostat (73 Pontiac)

[Innovator831021]

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

I forgot to mention that Grassroots Motorsports did a test, and while Kroil and PB Blaster did well, they got the best results with a 50-50 mix of acetone and ATF. One time a friend had a very sticky ignition lock on his car, not having anything else available I dipped the key in ATF and left it overnight in the lock. AFIK that lock is still working smoothly.

Thank you very much for that piece of information, I will be giving that a try! Do you know what type of ATF works best? I found a link to the forum post about it... according to them the liquid wrench is nearly as good as the kroil!!! Kroil is expensive stuff but it does work great! Would like to know more about this study...

[Steve Bagu]

In theory a Square Peg will always fit into a Round hole if the edges are filed or sanded down enough.

You can drill down the center of a broken stud and tap with a hammer a special stud remover that has four sharp corners that will dig into the remaining stud and by turning counter clockwise unscrew the remaing stud. I had one of those in my tool box that I used for many yrs but have not seen it for a long time now since I retired. Maybe Snap On Tools will carry the item. This was not an Easy Out.

Steve

[Tennesseestorm]

WOW, alot of replies here... alot of options! Its not like I have nothing to go on. Thanks for all of the info!!

I think I will try that soaking in PB blaster or that other stuff mentioned first and go from there with the recommended socket. If that dont work, I will do that "heat" trick that many has mentioned.

It may be a couple of days before I can get to it, but I will report back with the results. Thanks again.

[1coolcustomer]

On really stubborn bolts a lot of times I'll double-wrench them off. Take the box end of the right size wrench and put it on the bolt and the take another similiar sized wrench and put the box end of that wrench and put it over the open end of the first wrench essentially making the wrench longer like a breaker bar.

Sometimes you can't get a socket or socket +extension straight on to a tough bolt and it likes to try and twist off and round out when you apply pressure.