tod84944

I stipped the lower and very back cam tower bolt on a car. Anybody have any suggestions. I can't get a drill close enough to drill it out.

Gator_86_951

Matt h from the turbo board has a jb-weld + socket plan. Do a search.

KuHL 951

Did you 'strip' the allen insert, the bolt, or the threads on the head. If it's just the allen head part rounded out you can use those bolt/nut remover sockets after tapping over the head if they fit through the access hole. Someone mentioned using the next size up torx bit pounded into the recess. At only 15 ft-lbs it's hard to believe so many people have trouble removing them.

944Ecology

For the lower (outer) camshaft housing bolt, you might be able to fit in a 90 degree die grinder with a 1/4 inch carbide ball bit into the hole... with enough time and patience, the head will eventually pop off onto the bit, allowing you to remove the housing.

The real gotchas are the ones inside the housing... I'm forever being patient with those... I had to drill one out about 4 years ago and don't ever want to have to do that again.

gb

Serge944

Its called applying force with a crooked allen wrench...or the wrong size for the matter.

tod84944

Actually what happend on this car, the motor has been apart before (you should see the vacume lines going crazy), instead of using the right torque, they went with the good-n-tight method. Of all the cars that I have parted(5), this is the first time that I have stripped a cam tower bolt. Being on the bottom and all the way in the back, there is no way to drill it out.
I have completely rounded out the inside of the bolt. I tried to hammer the next bigger size in with no luck.

seb928s

Dermal tool works wonders if it's on the outside. Just use one of those cutting wheel type end.

Scuba Steve

I'll second trying the Dremel if you can get in there. Have you tried vice grips? Is it possible to rotate the cam housing counter clockwise a little bit? Maybe if you can nudge it a little the bolt will loosen up.