Hi all
I have been lurking for around a month, but this is my first posting.
I've got a quick question. I have recently aquired a 1963 MGB Roadster, from
my dad, who loving re-built it when I was a child and has had the car for over
20 years.
Its mine because it has been standing in my dad's garage ever since he had a
motorbike accident and was unable to drive the car any more (pedals were too
heavy for his damaged knee) I couldn't bear to see the car go and so, when he
wanted to sell it, I took it from him.
Its suffering all the normal problems of a car which has stood for a while,
and I am working on those. However, I am not a mechanical genius, and have a
question.
Whilst replacing some corroded cooling system pipes, one of the bolts which
goes from the engine head and holds the thermostat housing in place sheared
off while I was tightening the nut.
I am assuming that this is not an integral part of the engine, and is probably
a bolt which uses a reverse thread and so can be replaced. However, could
anyone advise me the best way to remove this bolt? (its broken about halfway
up, and so I don't think it was a case of me over tightening.) Should I try
flattening off the top of the bolt and using a wrench to try and unscrew it,
or should I break it lower down and drill out the remaining part?
Also, it was the final bolt I was trying to fasten and, despite the break, the
system does not appear to be leaking any water from the cooling system. Do I
risk driving the car around 30 miles to a trusted mechanic friend, and get him
to help me, or is this a job which I should be able to do myself?
Any tips from anyone who has done this before themselves would be very much
appreciated. What I want to try and avoid is damaging anything else whilst
trying to fix this problem.
Many thanks
Chris Rose
1963 MGB Roadster
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