Targa Top bolt (help)

[militant_x]

Alright guys, another dumb question but I have little experience dealing with these things.



My drivers side windshield side targa top bolt is stripped out. A while ago I snapped the corvette ratchet in half trying to take it off. Now my new socket has stripped it in one direction.



I see how I could pull of the plastic trim, but then I still have no idea how to deal with removing a stripped bolt that is really (really) in there.



Thanks for any help,



-chris

 

[Ken]

There is probably no way to remove the bolt without drilling for an EZ-Out or something similar. There's obviously nothing of the bolt head to grab due to the recess in the header.

 

[unleadedbrew]

I was curious so I tried to take the trim off with the targa on and it seems to be a no-go without breaking it. That may be your only choice, Chris. If you've broken a wrench and then stripped out a torx bolt, I don't think an EZ-out will be strong enough. It appears that if the trim is removed (@$50-60 from Ecklers or cheaper on eBay) then the bolt head will be in the open and Vise-Grips might work. Sounds to be cross-threaded, but Liquid Wrench would also be in order. That thing must really be in there. Sorry

Gordon

PS - Of course I've never had the opportunity to use a good quality EZ-out.

 

[Ken]

Penetrating oil will certainly help if you can get some up in there, and let it soak for a while. It may also help to give the head of the fastener a few hits with a hammer after applying the penetrating oil. A good whack may help to break the bond.

 

[unleadedbrew]

Penetrating oil will certainly help if you can get some up in there, and let it soak for a while. It may also help to give the head of the fastener a few hits with a hammer after applying the penetrating oil. A good whack may help to break the bond.

Yep!! Whackin' it always helps.......

 

[Rain]

:bash:blow

Yep!! :eyerole Whackin' it always helps.......

 

[Ken]

Are you guys serious? You never heard of "whacking" a frozen bolt to break the threads free?

 

[unleadedbrew]

Are you guys serious? You never heard of "whacking" a frozen bolt to break the threads free?

Oh, yeah, a frozen bolt........Of course we have. Just makin' small talk.

 

[rch105]

May I suggest a product called KROIL? It's a pink colored liquid in a can that really penetrates and can be found at most auto parts stores.

 

[WhalePirot]

I just learned that a better alternative to EZ outs, which frequently break, is left hand drills. Also, flatten the bolt surface, if possible and use a small drill for a pilot hole. These methods will minimize wandering of the bit.

It's in here>>>>> http://www.madelectrical.com/index.shtml

 

[krgoodman]

i have a question......my glass top on my '85 is coming loose from the frame. it appears to be epoxied on there but one corner is coming loose. can i re-epoxy it? if so what do i use? sure could use a reply about this, i don't want to fork-out $850 for a new one. (i don't have the blue top to put o during repairs)
thanks!!!