Hey guys...dropping a 6 cylinder out of my parts car and I'm on the cradle bolts. They won't budge...any suggestions other then welding them off. Or is that it? thx!
------------------ Lance Click Image to go to site.
IP: Logged
09:49 PM
PFF
System Bot
Fierowrecker Member
Posts: 1858 From: Lowell, MI. USA Registered: Mar 2001
Originally posted by Elenor84: Hey guys...dropping a 6 cylinder out of my parts car and I'm on the cradle bolts. They won't budge...any suggestions other then welding them off. Or is that it? thx!
Blue wrench works every time! Or a sawzall... crash...
do you mean the nuts are rusted on? or the nuts are off and the bolts won' back through the holes?
Well if you are talking about the vertical ones with the big round washer on them all I can recomend is elbow grease and or a de-ruster (ie liquid wrench or wd-40)
Now if you are talking about the front bolts or the ones that run horizontaly through the body mounts, through the cradle bushing, and through the body mount once again? Well if those are your problem the way I have found is to get on them with an air rachet(normal rachet if you are not lucky enough to be blessed by the god of air tools) and get on them and start backing them out. If this does not work try a few love taps with a hammer. If still nothing get on thier and back it out and have a buddy give it some love taps with the hammer.
If one of that works I would resort to the cutting wheel or cutting torch.
ya I'm stuck on the horizontal ones...already sprayed copios ammounts of wd40 and heated them up with tortch and still nothing...don't have air tools either. I'm going to the store right now to get liquid wrench. Is that my best bet? and yes we bashed it with hammers. and on the nut.
------------------ Lance Click Image to go to site.
IP: Logged
11:19 PM
Aug 29th, 2001
Dan86gt3.8 Member
Posts: 465 From: Waco/San Marcos, Tx (USA) Registered: Jan 2000
I hope you don't have the same problem I had. I had the bolts rust to the sleeves inside the bushing. I eventually got the craddle out, but I had to cut the bolt (blue wheel on a 4" grinder) to do it. It was a major pain in the arse. Good luck. Scott
IP: Logged
01:19 AM
Joe Torma Member
Posts: 3485 From: Hillsborough, NJ USA Registered: Jul 2001
Originally posted by Scott: I had the bolts rust to the sleeves inside the bushing
I had that problem the first time I took out my engine...with no air tools I used many curse words and a breaker bar pushing and pulling like 1000 times while hitting the bolt head with a hammer.
I have a 600-lb-ft (peak) impact wrench, it rocks. I use a set of welder's gloves (nicely padded) and brace myself (AND THE CAR) very well...
Haven't found anything that could stand up to it yet
Air tools rule.
(though the 3/8 air *ratchet* I have would not be potent enough to budge the cradle bolts, or the suspension knuckle bolts... 50lb-ft just isn't enough )
Best! Ben.
------------------ Ben Cannon 88 Formula, T-top Metalic Red 88 Formula, Silver 87 Coupe, Metalic Red "Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives" -Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"
IP: Logged
02:45 PM
PFF
System Bot
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
Originally posted by Elenor84: So patience and alot of elbow grease? Thx guys!
Yup, that's about right. I used a 4 foot long steel pipe over my rachet handle to break the bolts loose on my cradle when I did the clutch in it. Even then, it was hard to get it off.
Well one thing you have to do is make sure you have the motor and cradle supported so as little weight as possible is on the bolts. I used a rented compressor and air ratchet to take the nuts off. Then after the usual copius amounts of WD40 I used an air chisel to drive the bolts out. You need the hammering action of the chisel to break the rust free. I used the chisel head and then a smaller bolt to push the cradle bolts out once they went past the inner hole. Not easy and I hope I never have to do it again but possible. You have bought new bolts for it I hope ?
BTW Lance you should update your sig to show the new front and rear fascias on your car now. Oh and the bolts are fairly expensive and your dealer will probably have to order them in, but they will be worth it if you ever have to do this again. I doubt you can get the originals out without destroying the threads anyway
[This message has been edited by GT-maniac (edited 08-30-2001).]
IP: Logged
02:41 PM
Cozmo Member
Posts: 421 From: Ybor City, FL Registered: Feb 2001
I just dropped the cradle on my parts car earlier this afternoon. All 4 bolts came out intact (and reusable), here's what I did... PB Blaster!!! Lots of it over 3 days, while I was disconnecting all the other stuff I'd "blast" them suckers every now and then. I used a 1/2" drive Craftsman socket wrench with a 4' breaker bar, one good "oomph" and they came out purty as you please... Maybe the car knew I had the "blue wrench" and a grinding wheel ready
I broke my ratchet.
