Its not a Bronco, yet anyway.... But I bought a beater F150 with a 351 H.O. Only has 162,000k on it, has sat for 6 years. Well I got it running pretty good, has tons of power, had a ton of vaccum leaks. Has a major oil leak. I figured it was the front crank seal so yesterday I started tearing the front off the engine, man what a nightmare, every bolt fought me to the end. Had 4 bolts break off. Next was to get the timing chain cover away from the bolt, I tapped on a flathead screwdriver slowly and lightly, it fought me but came slowly, then I moved up to a chisel. Kept working at it and snap. broke on off the top ears off (the bolts are still in the block at this point and corrded into the bolt holes of the timing cover) Took about a 1 inch chunk out of the top of the cover. Now it was broken so out comes the big hammers and chisels. Came off with a few good whacks, turns out I was right about the front seal, all the rubber was hard was about a 1 inch chunk missing. now I have 4 broken bolts stuck in the block. I tried visegrips, worked on one. So I had a beer and thought about it. Was thinking I need some heat, maybe heat them up and the visegrips should be able to get them out. But I have no torch. So I had an idea, I cut the bolts off at about an inch and a half and welded nuts on them, that gave them the heat I wanted and something to attach the ratchet to. It worked they came out no problem. So now its off to the scrap yard for a timing chain cover and new bolts......
84 F150
- Thread starter Yardape
- Start date
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RBuffordTJ
New member
Sounds like you got your hands full on that one. I am getting ready to strip my engine compartment down some, pull off any emissions stuff I can (the main part is already removed) and get the AC stuff and extra vacuum crap out. I want easier access to the engine and a way to see it when I open the hood. I just have to take the time and hit it.
BroncoJoe19
Active member
wow.. I am glad that welding nuts on trick worked for you... that is definitely the nightmare we all face with these 20 year old trucks. Almost as bad as working on marine engines. I hate the thought of having to drill and use an EZ out. Hehe... easy my butt !#%!
