I decided to rework the front suspension while my engine is out of my T-bird (1960)...all went well with the coil spring removals, etc...but when I tried to actually remove the lower-arm/a-frame, I ran into a problem.
The bolts on the frame-side of the lower A-frame/arm (whichever you prefer to call it) are 1 1/8 in size, but the heads are so thin you can barely get a wrench or socket over them.
Now, I know some tricks to keep from stripping the head of a bolt, but I am coming nearer and nearer reaching that point. The head of this bolt is less than 1/4 inch deep, and apparently is torqued to oblivion.
I've tried everything short of using my acetylene torch to heat the bolt red-hot and then wait for it to return to gray, and then try to break it free. This has never failed with a bolt that is perhaps an inch or so in depth, but this funky bolt is so long (through the frame) I don't know if the heat would penetrate well-enough to free it.
These have to be some of the most frustrating bolts I've come across considering that it is staring me right in the face and is easily accessible. It should be a no-brainer to remove these, but again...the bolt head is so thin and the torque so high that I am at a loss on how to break these loose. Rounding the head off is becoming nearer and nearer.
For any of you who have removed these bolts, how on earth did you manage to do it? Are mine just torqued beyond all reason?
I can't go any further in my efforts until I get these removed (And I can't turn back now), and the only thing I see I can do from this point is use heat and hope it works. If not, I face the daunting task of burning them out/ cutting them out with a torch and praying I can somehow replace them.
Any ideas? Am I missing something....perhaps that these somehow don't need to be removed (though I don't see how that is possible)?
Thanks,
Merid
The bolts on the frame-side of the lower A-frame/arm (whichever you prefer to call it) are 1 1/8 in size, but the heads are so thin you can barely get a wrench or socket over them.
Now, I know some tricks to keep from stripping the head of a bolt, but I am coming nearer and nearer reaching that point. The head of this bolt is less than 1/4 inch deep, and apparently is torqued to oblivion.
I've tried everything short of using my acetylene torch to heat the bolt red-hot and then wait for it to return to gray, and then try to break it free. This has never failed with a bolt that is perhaps an inch or so in depth, but this funky bolt is so long (through the frame) I don't know if the heat would penetrate well-enough to free it.
These have to be some of the most frustrating bolts I've come across considering that it is staring me right in the face and is easily accessible. It should be a no-brainer to remove these, but again...the bolt head is so thin and the torque so high that I am at a loss on how to break these loose. Rounding the head off is becoming nearer and nearer.
For any of you who have removed these bolts, how on earth did you manage to do it? Are mine just torqued beyond all reason?
I can't go any further in my efforts until I get these removed (And I can't turn back now), and the only thing I see I can do from this point is use heat and hope it works. If not, I face the daunting task of burning them out/ cutting them out with a torch and praying I can somehow replace them.
Any ideas? Am I missing something....perhaps that these somehow don't need to be removed (though I don't see how that is possible)?
Thanks,
Merid
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