Help please... I stripped the head on an Injector screw!

[Cracker Jack]

I have been carefully working this last injector screw. Tighten a fraction, then loosen a fraction, used penatrating oil, etc etc. Been on this for a week. Finally most of the grip within the screw head is gone, so I can't even grip with the phillips screwdriver. This is in a tight spot. Any suggestions on removing this? I have a spare car with an intact fuel rail, injectors, and screws, etc, so if I have to break this injector I will, but I want to use that as a last resort!!

Thanks to any and all that can help.

[WingZr0]

You can try this, Sometimes it works for me but I'm sure

others will suggest better with the proper tools.

Take a Small vice grip (preferably) or pliers then grip it, turn, unclamp the

grips then reclamp, turn again and repeat.

May take some time but it worked on bolts like that for me.

You con also take a piece of metal, super glue it on the screw head,

let dry and turn it with pliers or clamps.

Just my ideas but I'm sure other more experienced members have

better solutions.

~Z~

[hls30.com]

If it is an original machine screw, use an 8mm socket, or gearwrench if not, the vice grip way. I would alsot try an impact driver-carefully.

Will

[Cracker Jack]

Thanks so much for the advice, it is a Phillips screw, best I can tell it is original, but as tight as it is I will have to try the plier thing 1st. If thats a no go, I was then thinking of the glue/jd weld a piece of metal to the head and that would give me come leverage to unthread it. I will try and attach a photo of the screw to this post.

One curiosity I have is whether super glue will hold an old screwdriver in there? I might give it a whirl, can't hurt I guess (except when I bust my knuckles!).

hls30.com, will the 8mm socket "jam" onto the round head of the machine screw?

PS, the screw I am talking about is centered in the photo.

[zbane]

Jack, spray some PB blaster on that puppy, make sure that you have the appropriate sized phillips head, apply as much down force as possible, and twist it to the left. You could also attach a pair of vice grips to the screwdriver handle and use it as a breaker bar of sorts.

[Cracker Jack]

I actually did load that down with PB Blaster over the last week, the screwdriver feels perfect in the hole, and push down as hard as I can. It will slightly move to the right but then back to left and then nothing.

I know the old addage my dad told me "righty tighty, lefty loosy" but this bad boy just won't get loosy!

[m4xwellmurd3r]

ah, that isn't as bad as the injector screws on my car.

one of them i had to cut a slot in and use a slotted driver instead of a philips.

Maybe try using a bigger screw driver? if that doesn't work, vice grips will. I ordered a new set of those screws for my car to replace the ones that are bad, and the ones that are going bad.

[Cracker Jack]

ah, that isn't as bad as the injector screws on my car.

one of them i had to cut a slot in and use a slotted driver instead of a philips.

Maybe try using a bigger screw driver? if that doesn't work, vice grips will. I ordered a new set of those screws for my car to replace the ones that are bad, and the ones that are going bad.

I was thinking of just cutting the top off to get the rail and injectors out. Then I would have room to use some vise grips to remove the rest of the screw. I do have another Z car here that is quickly becoming a donor car for misc parts like this. Then someday I guess I will just buy all new parts for the other one,

[hls30.com]

All of the original injector machine screws I have run into have been a phillips headed 8mm-meaning either a phillips or an 8mm will take them out-I always used the 8mm...

Will

[m4xwellmurd3r]

taht could work. But if you have the room to get something like a small dremel, maybe try cutting a slot on top (of course, making sure you don't make everything EXPLODE in the process)

then you can just use a flat head to get it out. might save some time compared to cutting the head off.

My screws on my 78 are only philips. I wish they were 8mm's though.

[hls30.com]

I'll do some research and check into this-having both driver fitments sure makes it easier to deal with situations like this.

Will

[kenz240z]

I would recommend using a drop or two of Craftsman Grip Doctor (item #41782 on the bottle) on the tip of the Phillips screwdriver. When I disassembled the rear window frames on my Z to replace the window glass gaskets I stripped the head of the first screw I tried to remove. That's when I remembered the Grip Doctor stuff. I used it on the remaining screws and got them all out without any trouble. This stuff works.

As far as the stripped out screw, I used a Craftsman screw extractor. I have a three piece kit #52154. I selected the proper size extractor and used it to successfully remove the stripped out screw.