Darkwan

ok well im pretty much replacing the head gasket on an 83 944 n/a i believe i have 1 bolt that is stopping me from unseating the head...it is a hex bolt at the front of the head seems to be the only two like it on the head. it stripped out when i tried using a 6mm hex socket on it. any ideas on this? is this what is stopping the head from unseating? by the way i am new to rennlist and this car is my first 944 i bought it running but overheating and blowing white smoke out the exhaust...hello to all and thanks for any help that is given..

Tom M'Guinn

Welcome to rennlist. I think you are referring to the two bolts at the front of the head that clamp down the water passage. Yes, those hold the head down, and the head won't come off with those in place. You can use a drill to pop the head of those bolts off, then unscrew the shaft of the bolt once you remove the head. Or you can try vice grips on the outside of those bolts. Or weld a nut on and remove it that way. Or just grind the head of the bolts off with a dremel or grinder. Or flie flat spots on the side and use an open end wrench. Or hammer a slightly-too-big torz bit into the stripped out center. Or JB weld your allen key in there. Or cold-chisel the head of the bolt off. Or.... well you get the idea. Good luck!

xsboost90

sometimes you can use a twelve point socket - like a 12 or 13mm that just barely doesnt fit over the head of the alan bolt and smack it on there w/ a hammer, then just turn it out w/ a ratchet.

Jay W

Those 2 bolts are nearly always seized in there due to the water passage leaking into the threads and corroding them. Be careful while backing them out.

Darkwan

are those bolts screwed into the head or only the block? if the head of the bolt breaks will the head be able to unseat.. by the way i love this site you guys are awesome. ive read through various posts and the help and information that is given is the best....

Jay W

The bolts go through the head and are threaded into the block. It may be best to get the head off the bolt to remove the cylinder head. Then you can work with what is left stuck in the block without the cylinder head in the way.

Darkwan

thanks guys for the help i got the cylinder head off, head gasket was in terrible condition. waiting for the gasket set to come in and then i will put everything back together. i hoping that this will stop the overheating and white smoke...

FRporscheman

Did the bolts come out or did they snap?

Darkwan

one came out easy the other one stripped in the inside of the bolt so i broke the head of it and took it out after i got the cylinder head off