Rocker cover bolts on O540

[SHAYES]

got any suggestions on getting rocker cover bolts out that are corroded in, looks like previous owner didn't use never seize, the covers are pretty rust pitted and need to be changed, the bolts in the blind holes seem to be o.k to remove. the holes all the way thru are the problem. sprayed them all with penetrating oil to see if that helps.

[GMAC 76]

weld a 1/4" or 5/16" nut on them and wind'em out

[terrible ted]

I know i have drilled a hole down the middle and bolts to have them loosened up.

[Planeguy]

Did you get them out? I was thinking in addition to any corrosion issues you may be fighting, if the original machine screws have been swapped for bolts they were likely way over torqued when they were installed (or possibly to stop a leak instead of fixing it). I am not a fan of heat on aluminum castings (welding or otherwise) because anything over 500° F has a tendency to age and weaken it. Sometimes there isn't much choice though.

[SHAYES]

I hauled it down to Tom Schmidt and let him take care of it. he ended up breaking 6 or 8 off and helicoiled them. Anyway sometimes it's best to leave it to the people that do it everyday. The way my luck runs I would have screwed up a cylinder or two (probably with a sledge hammer) when my patience ran out.

[Deano]

Ah . . .

The indications of being a little older and little wiser.
I know. . . I to, learned the same lesson in much the same way.

The Good Lord blessed me in a bunch of ways,
but an over-abundance of patience was not one of them.