sudden overheating - early water pump

[CovKid]

Not so simple. Its one of the bolts (horizontal) that holds the thermostat housing to pump. Its a long bolt and stuck fast. Can get a socket on it but it needs heat on pump just where bolt enters (pump being replaced anyway) to break its grip. Ended up with a sort of micro blow torch for the not inconsiderable sum 0f £22 in maplins but its a fierce flame for its size and you can refill with lighter cans. Supping tea and about to dive in Bren - again.

[jrt]

Good luck, i had the same problem the other year. That bolt throught the thermostat housing was completely fused in it, it ended up snapping off and having to be drilled out. I also had a problem with one of the water pump studs corroded into it and ended up carefully drilling around it to free it off. Loads of heat, plus gas and jiggling.
David

[CovKid]

Right, thermostat bolt not budging, heat, plusgas, even chisel encouragement. No way is that coming out. I figure if I take thermostat and pump off as one (which many seem to do), I can just grind head carefully off that bolt and it will separate housing from pump - albeit with bolt minus head still stuck in pump (no matter its scrap anyway).

Decided I'd have way more access to that metal pipe (with awkward bolts) that goes across to drivers side behind pulley if I remove main pulley (duly done) and hopefully if I can disconnect the short piece of hose further along the pipe, I can just pull thermostat, pump AND pipe out as one. Then sort whats there. Not sure if that short piece of hose is stock or a mod?

Back to it....

[CovKid]

Pump now off, with thermostat still attached due to seized bolt. Its a step forwards though. I found I could wriggle them both out. Next step looks like angle grinder stuff so in for a cuppa.!

Went back out, glad I didn't grind bolt head as its stuck in the thermostat - nothing but corrosion. Can't even shock it out with a hammer tap from t'other end. If only I had a bench drill - could have drilled it out completely then. No vice either.

Absolutely had enough. Don't want to touch it anymore today so will get into work via bus or similar tomorrow. Try again tomorrow night with hopefully more enthusiasm...

[CovKid]

Ok, heres when I'm presently stuck. This is the thermostat housing (pre-85). The bolt (centre of pic) normally screws directly into pump (ie what you see here is a bolt not held in by threads but corrosion (ally/steel). The other one on the other side came out no prob. Looking at bolt head you can see the fight I've had with it.

Unless anyone has any other ideas, the only thing I can think of is to centre-punch bolt head, get it on a bench drill next weekend and drill through bolt until that hole is clear once more. Given the aparent rarity of these housings and the bolt's stubborness....

The thermostat itself also seems determined to stay put.

[dumbo]

covkid try putting it the oven... then some 3in1 oil on it when hot... and a good old bang to try and shock it so and the oil might find its why down worth a go simon

[what2do]

WHS^, one thing that I've always done ( as taught by an old school engineer), and hasn't been mentioned here, is that when dealing with a seized bolt, it's best if;

Use a T-bar rather than a ratchet as it means that you can apply a more even force.

Rather than attempting to undo the culprit, try to tighten it first. By this, I mean a tiny clockwise twist then anticlockwise, tiny movements and repeat.

Nothing is ever going to work 100% of the time but I consider myself quite 'lucky' at extracting rusty nuts (carefully worded so as to avoid being 'taken out of context').

[CovKid]

Technically there should be nothing stopping it coming out. Although the far end of that bolt had threads, it doesn't now and what you see there is a piece of round bar in a tube - held in place by crud/rust. I suppose it'll shift with a comination of things - heat, penetrating fluid, shock. Do you think if I sneak up on it and shout BOO really loudly....

However I do it, I can't break the casting or I'm sunk. I did get thermostat out though. Similar stuff to whats holding bolt in I expect.

[T25Convert]

Sounds like a right pain.

My housing has a mod made my some previous owner, in that it has a row of 5 small holes drilled into the casting where your bolt is stuck. In effect this gives you five points to inject your chosen lubricant, which increases its effectiveness. Holes are the perfect size for the size tube you get on wd40 cans...

Good luck whatever you end up doing!

Cheers,

Alex

[jrt]

[quote="CovKid"]

Unless anyone has any other ideas, the only thing I can think of is to centre-punch bolt head, get it on a bench drill next weekend and drill through bolt until that hole is clear once more. Given the aparent rarity of these housings and the bolt's stubborness....


That's what i ended up doing after searching for a secondhand 'stat housing. I can't remember who but someone on here refurbs the metal housings.
David




I

[CovKid]

T25convert - thats exacly what I was going to do to mine! Drill at least one or two holes part way down so I can get some penetrating fluid in there.

It seems to seal itself at either end, stopping you getting anything in there but I noticed when I removed other bolt, apart from it being slightly rusty along the shank, it could actually move once I'd broken its seal. It was definately worse under the head and along thread in the pump. If I can get in somewhere along the mid point, it should help unseat it but as it is, this is like trying to get into Fort Knox!

[Jakemate]

If you can get it to me either dropping it off or posting it to me I can get it in a miller, mill the top off and then cut a small centre in the exact middle and then drill down the shaft and cut the old bolt out.

I can then post it back to you.

I work in engineering/motor vehicle dept at a large college.

Is there a thread in there or is it just a hole, I'm not familiar with the housing but can get the offending bolt out if required.

[CovKid]

No thread fortunately Jake and thanks for your kind offer. Its just a rusted shank - must be as the housing is screwed on to the pump and it wouldn't have a thread in both units. The other bolt was like that - long shank then a bit of thread to grip pump. I'm sure they're both the same.

Have to go into work in the morning (desk job) but a local mechanic a few yards from work has an upright drill so with luck I can drop in at lunchtime, clamp it down and see how I go. Have a feeling its going to be simpler (in the end) to just start drilling it providing I'm square to it. With luck it'll probably surrender once I'm through the head anyway.

Ralph

[Jakemate]

No worries

Always here to help if I can, I know how annoying it is when something like a rusted bolt gets in the way !

[CovKid]

Lunchtime, managed to slip out of work. Local garage took it on. They weren't in favour of drilling it.

Shoved in a vice, they managed to turn bolt very slightly with a bolt/nut gripper on a 2 foot extension bar - even then he was really having to heave on it. I was expecting the casting to just give way. Bolt didn't actually spin free. More penetrating fluid then punch used from the other end. With endless blows from a heavy hammer, it eventually moved a quarter of an inch. Still tight. More fluid. Then one mug of tea later he just thought of Cameron and clouted the daylights out of that bolt until it was out. Minor dings to casting but nothing that impacts on seals/gaskets.

Well thats stage 2......

Oh, and I'll be filling those bolt holes with grease!

Reassembly now. Lets hope its relatively simple....