A lot of heat.

I use heat every time I remove these bolts on the first try.

The attachment doesn't come through on the list you need to post the photo
somewhere and give a link.

Used thermostat housings can be pricey because this problem is so common.
If you are sick of trying things you should be able to take it to a machine
shop and get them to remove them for you, it should be cheaper than a used
housing I think.

When reassembling, use a torque wrench and pay attention to the torque
setting for these bolts.  It is very small.

On Mon, May 21, 2012 at 11:51 PM, William <grateful@swcp.com> wrote:

> I recently removed the waterpump and thermostat housing from my
> 1984 vanagon only to find the gasket between the hose flange and
> the housing to be bulging and leaking.  When I attempted to remove
> one of the 6mm bolts, I broke the head off the bolt.  I thought my
> only option now was to break off the other bolt head, remove the
> hose flange, remove the gasket, and soak the threads with Sea Foam.
> I applied Sea Foam twice a day for a week.  I thought now the bolts
> may move slightly so make more paths for the penetrating oil.  I
> put a small vise-grip on the bolt stub but the bolt did _not_ move.
> I do not want to apply so much torque to twist off the bolt stub.
>
> I tried turning clockwise. Nothing.
>
> I tried turning counter-clockwise. Nothing.
>
> I tried freezing the entire housing with the vise-grip attached and
> then heating just the aluminum housing around the bolt with a propane
> torch.  No movement.
>
> I tried many small impact taps on the bolt stub. No movement.
>
> I read on-line somewhere three important steps when removing seized bolts:
> 1) Be patient.
> 2) Be very patient.
> 3) Be extremely patient.
>
> My next trick is to spray the bolt with super coolant to make it
> contract.  I assume the local napa will have something environmentally
> friendly.
>
> What am I forgetting?
> I am open to any and all suggestions to remove the seized bolts.
>
> Does anyone have a spare used water pump thermostat housing laying
> around you want to sell?
>
> Attached is a photo of my poor tortured housing.
>
> --
> William
> grateful@nmia.com
>
> 505 440 0760
>
> Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they
> don't want, to impress people they don't like.
> -Will Rogers
>