Front Heater core bolt stripped!

[scottychop]

Ok, got the dash out without too much fuss. Whew. I go to remove the 6 screws holding the heater box out and 5 come out really easy. The 6th is way in there under the brake stuff on the left hand side. Lots of PB blaster and time and it strips like it's welded on there. No rust, nice clean metal all around. How in the HECK am I going to get in there?

pic from Ben's site

[Vanagon Nut]

Since it's stripped this may not help, but did you get penetrating fluid in at exterior end of the screw? IIRC, some of them can be sprayed from the outside.

As you may know, replacing those screws with cap bolts is a good idea.

Drill using an angle attachment?

Or use an impact screwdriver? I bought a (Lyle?) brand. Has worked great for things like the Phillips on the front brake dust plates. You need room for a clear swing with hammer. Make sure you use correct sized bit.

Edit: I'd have to double check that it would fit, but you'd likely need to use an extension with this tool. Any decent (i.e. Craftsman) 3/8" extension between bit holder and tool should be able to handle a few hammer whacks.

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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[danfromsyr]

I have a dedicated long reach #3 screwdriver for those.. and it's certainly a bear..
but once stripped out the center your only choice is to drill out the bugger
they have LOOOOOOONG drills at the hardware store. or a long drill bit extender for a bit you already own.


once the head is off and the heater is out you can remove the remaining bit with vice grips. use anti-seize on the threads for the next guy.
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[eeebee]

I had to drill mine out. I drilled the head off and replace with cap bolts and anti-seize.
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Eric

1987 Vanagon Wolfsburg Special Edition
GoWesty 2.3

Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time.

[IdahoDoug]

I agree just drill it out and pull the remains after the heater core's out of the way. However, you might slide under and take a quick look in case it's accessible from the grille area out front. If so, you might reach up with pliers and snip it off, or fire PB directly on it and try one more time with a screwdriver. Grille comes out in seconds.

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[scottychop]

Thanks guys. I'll give it a go tomorrow. I have an impact driver but no extensions. Drill bits I have plenty of.

[IdahoDoug]

A couple years ago someone gave me an interesting product to try on stripping screw heads. It's a paste of extremely hard and sharp bits smaller than grains of sand. You put it on the screwdriver tip and these bits bite into the tool steel and the fastener steel and help everything grip. Got a stubborn screw out with it.

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[insyncro]

Yank the whole heater box and replace it with heat and AC in one.

http://www.vintageair.com/index.asp

[Terry Kay]

Two man job & real simple.

One guy inside with a long wide punch and a ball pein hammer rapping on the end of it--

The other guy on the outside backing out the bolt.
It'll crank right outa there.
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T.K.