The other day I noticed that the nut on the last stud on my exhaust manifold looked loose. Actually, it turned out that the stud had cracked in two. I drilled a hole in the stud and tried to pull it out with a screw extractor. Well, the screw extractor broke off in the stud flush with the broken piece. I can't get a drill to start into the screw extractor (probably because it is hardened steel).

Any ideas on where to go from here? Will I have to pull the head and take it to a machine shop? Thanks for the advice.

$#%#@!$%$- Those where my thoughts after the extractor broke!

How about a BIG honking pair of vice grips...Do you have enough to grab onto with the vice grips. If not, you may end up taking all that off in order to get to the stud so you can get it out...

webdawg1

The other thing you can try is to get a a center punch and hit the hardened SCREW EXTRACTOR and try to break it up..MAKE SURE YOU WEAR SAFTEY GLASSES. PIECES OF THE SCREW EXTRACTOR WILL FLY

What about finding a shop with a Ramah Machine?

That usually doesn't require removing as much as getting a drill into the area does, and it makes no nevermind what may be stuck in the hole as long as it conducts electricity.

Will

Whats a Ramah Machine?

RAMAH IS A VIBRATING METAL DISINTEGRATOR THE USES ELECTRIC SPARK TO EAT AWAY THE METAL.. lOOK IT UP ON GOOGLE..THAT WHERE I FOUND THIS INFO..

Hate it when that happens.

I've had luck by taking a nut that is slightly larger than what would be normal for the stud and placing it over the end of the stud or over the hole where the stud was broken off flush, Then welding through the hole in the nut with a relatively high amperage MIG. This , when it works, welds the stud to the nut and also introduces heat to the stud. I then put a wrench on the nut and wiggle it. It usually comes free. Also you might try heating the nut with a torch first to introduce even more heat.

Good Luck.

Larry

When I broke the extractor, I was working on a cold engine. Anybody think it would be easier if I did this after bringing the engine up to temperature? I'm thinking about just leaving it alone. I don't hear any exhaust leaking, so until it starts, I don't see any harm in just leaving it alone. On the other hand, if I screw this up, I've damaged an e-31 head. Thoughts?

Yes RAMAH MACHIENE AS WAS POSTED OR WHAT LEB POSTED . I have used ezy-outs many times over the years . They are a last resort for me. I have found that they are successful for me about 25% of the time.

It will start leaking eventually, and the head is aluminum so when it leaks it might erode the head. So either way you could end up messing the thing up.

On the other hand, if you don't drive it that often it might last for a long time.

I found a broken stud on my 260 #1 cylinder under the t-stat housing.It,s not leaking and has been like this since I,ve had the car,almost a year.The break is near flush with the head and probably have to remove the manifolds to extract.I,m leaving it alone as the manifold is providing a good seal