Taking Suggestions-Bolt Removal
 

I will even take "fucking suggestions" or "God damn suggestions" if you can help me get this thing out.

This is one of the steering column bolts. After my new seat project, I realized the steering wheel is now too high (was raised with stock seat to make legroom for my tallness). My dad is mailing me the stock column spacers so I can lower it back to stock height.

I was at about 30% pull on a 1/2 drive when the bolt head popped off. NOT a lot of force for what I would think to be at least GRADE8. The threads on the bottom don't look bad. I got impatient and tried some vice grips (not very tight which might have been the problem) and hurt the threads on the top.

It's soaking in PB-Blaster now and I think I'm just gonna try my BIG pair of Vice Grips on the top again this time as hard as I can squeeze to get them to lock tight.

There's no way to remove that bracket the bolt is stuck in without removing the entire dash assembly which isn't in the cards. Worst case scenario I take it somewhere and have them put a tac-weld on that side (something easily Dremel'd off). I've got confidence that the one remaining bolt will be sufficient... taking suggestions.

maybe heat that bitch(nut) up with something small like a cigar torch then vice grips

drill a hole through the bolt for a rod to fit and break it loose.

I think there's too much plastic in there, but awesome excuse to hit Harbor Freight and buy something that makes fire... BTW, anybody have a weed-burner? A buddy has one and fired it up for me. HOLY SHIT!

cigar torch is small, it's like one of those lighters where the flame comes out like a jet's afterburner, to me it looks like you can get that in there without melting anything else.

As it turns out, when I posted this thread 5 minutes ago, all I really needed was an excuse to come check my email... and a fresh perspective on the problem... perhaps a new pair of testicles.

One of my neighbors is recently retired Force Recon Marine. He was walking his dog and came up the driveway and I told him my problem.

He looked at the bolt, then at the can of Blaster and the Vice-Grips... and then looked at me kinda funny. It's a look I've seen before... some of you may recognize it. It's the look that Marines give Navy guys to let them know they're just the transportation. Kinda like a "WTF?" look but with added emphasis cause I know this guy has been in battle. I was a little embarrassed and picked up the Vice-Grips. I had it out in about 30 seconds.

That's why I like you Sam. You admit when you've made things too difficult, or when you don't know something. Maybe you should give lessons to some other people around here.

:bowrofl:
FWIW, my dad was Marine LRRP in 'nam.

Its a good thing you didn't have a saw within reach or you'd be chopping off the bolt just for fun :)

maybe you should burn and drill something just to impress us.

Yeah I've got one from Harbor Freight. It's pretty sweet. My wife thinks it is going to blow up whenever I use it because it is LOUD

I still up for a trip to the tool store for some implements of FIRE!

Harbor freight will always have a special place in my heart for cheap "1 time use tools" :) haha

I'm more of a Northern guy myself, sometimes I get two uses from there stuff.:giggle:

I liked to use mine to melt the ice off the driveway when I lived in MI. Now it just lives happily in my garage with no real purpose.

The companies that the Navy contracts with to do moves won't transport propane bottle unless they're empty. So anytime somebody moves, they know they can bring me their bottles and I'll use'em... always grillin' at my place on the weekends, races, games, etc...

I've got 6 half-full propane tanks sitting under the deck right now.

well, I still think you need to torch something :)