C2: C2 Broken oil pan bolt

[Dan Pepper]

Upon removing my oil pan (engine in car), I found one of the front 1/4" bolts sheered off flush with the engine case. I'm looking for suggestions on the best way to get the stub out. Ideas?

[Jim T.]

Re: C2: C2 Broken oil pan bolt

Depends on how the bolt was sheared. Anyway I guess that you have tried to remove it by putting a screwdriver on and and seeing if it would twist out freely. I would drill it and use an easy out to back it out. Since the head is of the bolt there might not be any tightness to the remaining piece.

[Mike M.]

Re: C2: C2 Broken oil pan bolt

Snap-on, and probably others, sell a left hand drill bit that often removes such problems. mike

[Terry M.]

Re: C2: C2 Broken oil pan bolt *TL*

I have had very little success with drilling and using a tapered removal tool - the so called Easy-Out. I much prefer the straight removal tool from Snap-On. They have straight flutes and do not expand the remains as much as the tapered style.

I will post a link to the snap-on site, but they are devilishly long, and I am not sure it will work. You do not need to buy the whole set, they are available individually. Look for a description on the lower part of the page.

They are called straight screw extractors, and the part numbers are E1 through E6. The smallest they have is 1/4-inch, so they may not be small enough for the bolt you have. Any extractor will require an accurately drilled hole, and clearance may be an issue. You may have to remove the engine to get the needed clearance, as there is little room for compromise for accuracy in the drilling operation.

Good luck.




Snap-On extractor set

[Mark G.]

[William V.]

Re: C2: C2 Broken oil pan bolt

Before drilling, I suggest exhausting all other methods to remove the broken bolt. If you must resort to drilling, use a sharp pointed center punch and start with the smallest drill bit you can find and drill slow. You will be drilling into stock that around 1/8th in diameter. (a 1/4 inch bolt includes the threads) Sometimes after the hole is started you can reverse the drill and unscrew the broken piece.
On the first oil change after buying my 66 in 1972 I found a broken 5/16 bolt in the block while changing the oil filter. I came out easly with a small screwdriver.

Good luck