Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Tx Firefighter · 08-02-2009, 01:18 PM

This is a basic tech procedure. I'm sure it's total review to most of you fellas, but hopefully it can help someone who doesn't know how to do this.

I had 4 bolts holding my cab hump on that were completely rusted and rounded off way beyond removal via wrench or socket.

First, you need to get in a patient mood...

Here is one of the perpetrators...

Take your grinder or even a file and smooth the rust off of the top of the bolt. You need nice, clean metal to work with...

Drop a nice clean nut onto the bolt nub. I buy mine at Tractor Supply for pennies...

Take your welder and weld the center of the nut up solid, nice and hot. Do not breath the fumes. The zinc plating on the nut will make toxic fumes and you will become quite sick. Just keep your head out of the way of the smoke. Nothing to get too wrapped up over...

Put a socket on the nut and twist the bolt out, easy as pie. The heat from the welding also serves to significantly loosen the rust buildup on the threads too...

Repeat as needed.

My next tech article will be how to buy a real camera that takes non blurry pictures.

foosed · 08-02-2009, 01:38 PM

great idea!

POPO1984 · 08-02-2009, 02:00 PM

Thats a good one man when i get a welder i think i will strip a nut just to use this technique. Thanks

hicktownhotrodder · 08-02-2009, 02:28 PM

i love your mood advise. but pouches? Red Man straight long cut here in illinois

kev2809 · 08-02-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POPO1984

Thats a good one man when i get a welder i think i will strip a nut just to use this technique. Thanks

lol, sounds tempting now. good idea tx firefighter

Tx Firefighter · 08-02-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hicktownhotrodder

i love your mood advise. but pouches? Red Man straight long cut here in illinois

When I'm at work, I never know when we will get a call. I need to be able to empty my lip and have clean teeth in an instant.

8door · 08-02-2009, 04:20 PM

Well who knows better about heat than --Tx Firefighter

That is a great method. I have always used heat to help break bolts loose, but this a 2fer

PanelDeland · 08-02-2009, 04:35 PM

Just for reference, the illness from welding zinc comes from the fumes and mimics the flu.I worked for a company that did industrial construction(lots of welding on galvanized) and had a B-I-L that worked in a galvanizing plant.The fumes are harmful and should be avoided but the short term effects can be eliminated or at least controlled by drinking plain old white sweet milk.Dunno why it works but it does.

cparman · 08-02-2009, 05:45 PM

Done that a bunch of times, and it flat works!! We will get a car in the shop with a rounded oil pan drain plug and do the same thing.

heavy71chevy · 08-02-2009, 08:08 PM

Im partial to cherry, berry and citrus blend but it all works the same lol good write up tho

**bigsnookmaster** · 08-02-2009, 10:13 PM

See there, it only costs the price of a welder to get that stubborn bolt out! Good advice on this thread!

Greaser · 08-02-2009, 10:44 PM

Great tip! Ironicly you bring up one I know. useing a Copenhagen lid, on rounded bolts take a lid, set it on top of the bolt, line up your socket, and smack it with a hammer, to set it on there. I guess in theory the hammer hit would loosen it a little bit also, but it has worked for me when in a bind. - Todd ( I have also done this with a cut up beer, uh I mean, pop can )

unclewatts · 08-02-2009, 10:52 PM

Gee, all I got is a socket set and a bottle of Liquid wrench.

MrDude_1 · 11-16-2010, 10:44 AM

thanks for this.. I was doing searches for new ways to loosen rusty bolts..

this is an awesome tip...
i have one i snapped the head off of, but i can see a little "stud" left.. i think if i try this on top, it will pull it out.

**DANTIP** · 11-16-2010, 12:45 PM

I had what I thought was a bolt stuck in a head. I welded a nut to the small piece sticking out of the hole and when I backed the nut out, out came a chunk of an easy-out and the end of a broken bolt stuck to it. Couldn't have worked out better!! Excellent method!

crushermechanic · 11-16-2010, 10:46 PM

i use that trick all the time. it works great on broken bolts in undercarriage and final drives. the hotter you can weld it the better it works. it also helps to hit it with a hammer before you try to losen.

08-02-2009, 01:18 PM	#1
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech This is a basic tech procedure. I'm sure it's total review to most of you fellas, but hopefully it can help someone who doesn't know how to do this. I had 4 bolts holding my cab hump on that were completely rusted and rounded off way beyond removal via wrench or socket. First, you need to get in a patient mood... Here is one of the perpetrators... Take your grinder or even a file and smooth the rust off of the top of the bolt. You need nice, clean metal to work with... Drop a nice clean nut onto the bolt nub. I buy mine at Tractor Supply for pennies... Take your welder and weld the center of the nut up solid, nice and hot. Do not breath the fumes. The zinc plating on the nut will make toxic fumes and you will become quite sick. Just keep your head out of the way of the smoke. Nothing to get too wrapped up over... Put a socket on the nut and twist the bolt out, easy as pie. The heat from the welding also serves to significantly loosen the rust buildup on the threads too... Repeat as needed. My next tech article will be how to buy a real camera that takes non blurry pictures. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

08-02-2009, 01:38 PM	#2
foosed Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Huron, sd Posts: 463	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech great idea! __________________ 1970 c/10 swb (show truck) 1972 custom/10 deluxe 4x4 (restoration pending) 2011 silverado ecsb z71 (daily driver)

08-02-2009, 02:00 PM	#3
POPO1984 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 1,133	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech Thats a good one man when i get a welder i think i will strip a nut just to use this technique. Thanks __________________ 1972 SWB Medium Olive South Houston Instagram: Antbish84

08-02-2009, 02:28 PM	#4
hicktownhotrodder Rollin Coal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Winnebago Illinios Posts: 131	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech i love your mood advise. but pouches? Red Man straight long cut here in illinois __________________ I have three letters to all these import guys: God-Made-Chevy 04 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax 1972 Chevrolet C-30 Dually Pickup stock? 350 SM465 four speed 1977 GMC K-35, TH-400, 4X4 450 horse 454(dad's) 1993 Dodge cummins 5-speed DEAD!!

08-02-2009, 04:20 PM	#7
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech Well who knows better about heat than --Tx Firefighter That is a great method. I have always used heat to help break bolts loose, but this a 2fer __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

08-02-2009, 04:35 PM	#8
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech Just for reference, the illness from welding zinc comes from the fumes and mimics the flu.I worked for a company that did industrial construction(lots of welding on galvanized) and had a B-I-L that worked in a galvanizing plant.The fumes are harmful and should be avoided but the short term effects can be eliminated or at least controlled by drinking plain old white sweet milk.Dunno why it works but it does. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

08-02-2009, 05:45 PM	#9
cparman sharp as a marble Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: atlantic beach,florida Posts: 1,082	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech Done that a bunch of times, and it flat works!! We will get a car in the shop with a rounded oil pan drain plug and do the same thing.

08-02-2009, 08:08 PM	#10
heavy71chevy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: antreville, south carolina Posts: 873	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech Im partial to cherry, berry and citrus blend but it all works the same lol good write up tho __________________ "Dixie Destroyer" 71 C10 LWB Fleet Future Blown Prostreet Monster

08-02-2009, 10:13 PM	#11
bigsnookmaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: St.Petersburg,Fl Posts: 1,270	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech See there, it only costs the price of a welder to get that stubborn bolt out! Good advice on this thread! __________________ greg http://community.webshots.com/user/68406Stepside

08-02-2009, 10:44 PM	#12
Greaser Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Worley, ID Posts: 48	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech Great tip! Ironicly you bring up one I know. useing a Copenhagen lid, on rounded bolts take a lid, set it on top of the bolt, line up your socket, and smack it with a hammer, to set it on there. I guess in theory the hammer hit would loosen it a little bit also, but it has worked for me when in a bind. - Todd ( I have also done this with a cut up beer, uh I mean, pop can )

08-02-2009, 10:52 PM	#13
unclewatts 70 Chevrolet=Obsession Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: nice ca Posts: 1,067	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech Gee, all I got is a socket set and a bottle of Liquid wrench. __________________ I'm Just like my truck. Old, Ugly and Grouchy. Except my truck starts easily in the morning and doesn't smoke! IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN! -Kermit the frog 1970 Chevrolet C-10 Longbed Stepside : 350, Muncie M20, 3.08 GM corp. positraction Forest green exterior/light green interior(Where all my money goes) 1996 Toyota Corolla (Parts runner)

11-16-2010, 10:44 AM	#14
MrDude_1 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 311	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech thanks for this.. I was doing searches for new ways to loosen rusty bolts.. this is an awesome tip... i have one i snapped the head off of, but i can see a little "stud" left.. i think if i try this on top, it will pull it out.

11-16-2010, 12:45 PM	#15
DANTIP Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA Posts: 1,888	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech I had what I thought was a bolt stuck in a head. I welded a nut to the small piece sticking out of the hole and when I backed the nut out, out came a chunk of an easy-out and the end of a broken bolt stuck to it. Couldn't have worked out better!! Excellent method!

11-16-2010, 10:46 PM	#16
crushermechanic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Fort Walton Beach, Fl Posts: 361	Re: Removing rusty, stuck bolts. A lazy Sunday afternoon tech i use that trick all the time. it works great on broken bolts in undercarriage and final drives. the hotter you can weld it the better it works. it also helps to hit it with a hammer before you try to losen.

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