So i have recently ordered a set of lt headers for my 2001 silverado 4.8l and i have noticed that on the passenger side the rear bolt head is snapped off and on the driver side the front bolt head is snapped off. Once i take the manifolds off there will be some of the bolt sticking out because they broke flush with my stock manifolds. so my question is how am i going to get out these two bolts? Maybe vice grips? thanks, kevin

 

If it's sticking out of the head, you're in luck. On those, Knipex Alligator pliers are the best way to go in my opinion. Way more grabbing power than Vise-Grips. They are a good addition to any toolbox.

 

that makes me feel a lot better hearing that!! are those the same as a regular set of pliers for the most part?

 

This style of pliers have a TON of leverage and holding power, and the teeth are aggressive, lots of traction on your broken bolt.

http://www.aikencolon.com/assets/ima...plication2.jpg

 

Thanks i appreciate it! also another thing i was wondering was if for some odd reason this didnt work should i resort to an extractor or not?

 

If that doesn't work, then get a nut, and weld it to the bolt through the center of the nut. Then you can use a wrench to remove it. And the heat from the welding helps a bunch.

If you try to drill it, you stand a pretty good chance of drilling off center, or even breaking off a drill bit or extractor in the bolt. Then you're screwed.

 

If you have a welder, weld a nut to it and use a socket or wrench to pull out.

 

thats what i was considering, but what are the chances though of messing up the weld and ruining my heads though? i believe they are aluminum :/

 

I'm not a very skilled welder, and I haven't had that happen to me yet.

 

Get a nut that is bigger than the bolt and put a couple of tack welds on top.