MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - Water Pump Bolts Stuck,

Hi, hopefully somebody out there may have had the same problem and can recommend my next course of action.

I have a 1966 MGBGT and i am in the process of changing a leaking water pump.

The problem i have is that two of the four bolts (bottom two) that hold the pump on onto the engine block are stuck fastened.

From efforts with a sprocket and spanners they are quite rounded off and i cannot get a socket set onto one without slippage.

I have also attempted drilling a hole in one and trying to use a reverse thread extractor that just snapped from the toque of turning it.

These bolts are really fastened in!

Could anybody advise the next course of action?

Should i drill them out?

Any answers greatly appreciated!

Thanks

J
P Laramee

Stud extractors are a liability if the stud you are trying to extract was stuck fast and it snapped trying to undo it, they can really only be used for extracting studs that have snapped during *tightening*. If the extractor snapped with its broken part below the level of the casting, you wouldn't even be able to drill it out, but I hope from your description that it is in the part that is still above the face of the casting. First you should try heat - acetylene torch if you can get the car to one or vice-versa, or failing that a MIG-welder applied to the head on maximum power. Also try hammering (that in itself may help) an under-sized socket onto the nut. But at the end of the day you may have to cut/grind the heads off to remove the pump, then drill and tap. Use the old pump body as a guide for the drilling. Progressively more desperate, as each method fails.
Paul Hunt 2

These bolts will either be seized in the pump or the block, my money will be on the pump, first i would try a gun socket ( a socket with only 6 sides ) if that holds and they feel like they are going to snap, i would go to plan B, if your old pump is made of aluminium i would cut down the side of the pump next to the bolts this is easy to do with a sharp chisel or you can drill down the side of the bolt but remember its the pump you are cutting not the bolt when you have exposed part of the full length of each bolt some WD 40 on each bolt, and try again, the more you cut away the better, this method always works for me if your pump is cast iron it just takes a bit longer to cut/drill, ps this method works well on thermostat housings as well
andy tilney

J

Forget WD40 (WD stands for Water Displacement) and get some PB Blaster, Kroil, or some similar penetrating oil. Lots in the archives on removing stuck bolts and studs.

HTH

Larry
Larry Hallanger

larry what does the pb stand for. at
andy tilney

If the stud is still sticking above the casting put a nut on top of it and weld or braze it to the rounded off head. Use a larger nut and weld thru the hole in it to the old bolt head.
John H

Not sure of availability outside of the US, but Sears sells a really nice tool for rounded nuts.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=bolt+remover

If there is enough room to get the socket on the rounded bolt, after the heat treatment, these should do it.
Bruce-C

PB: Found using Google on the manufacturers site:

"Most know Blaster by their leading product, PB. PB, a penetrating catalyst, is the most powerful penetrant and lubricant in the market at loosening nuts and bolts, ripping through rust, and penetrating and lubricating the tightest crevices."

Paul Hunt 2

Wow! So many helpful responses!

Thanks for all your comments. There is quite a bit for me to go on now.

I have a new plan of action. My Dad is a welder so that is an option, although the idea to remove the pump with by cutting the bolts appears feasible.

I will give it a go this weekend and let you know how i get on and if successful, will update on what method works for me, for everyones future reference.

Once again thanks for your hep

Jamie
P Laramee

This thread was discussed between 09/01/2008 and 10/01/2008

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB Technical BBS now