The bolt snap in half. The other piece is still on the head. The thread should still be good if I can only unscrew the other half out. I didn't realize the bolt screws into the head. This setup is different from my Honda. Looks like my only choice is to drill the piece that is still on the head and then retap but I don't know if this will create a space issue on the head

I'm sure someone broke one of these before on a DSM???

 

So you broke the head of the screw off? If that’s the case, you should just go ahead and remove the whole valve cover. With the valve cover removed, part of the screw should be sticking up past the head. You should be able to grab this w/ a pair of pliers or vice grips and twist it out.

 

Another rule of thumb I go by is to never use a torque wrench on a bolt where there is a something soft, like a gasket, in between the threads and the bolt head. I've learned my lesson by snapping enough bolts by trying to crank down on the bolts while compressing the soft material.

 

Yes, that is correct. I will try that. Thanks a lot for the help and suggestion.

 

If the above suggestion doesn't work here's another:

If you are REALLY careful, you might be able to take a very fine punch or jewler's screwdriver (you don't care about) and use a small hammer to gently push against a broken off edge on the bolt and spin it back out.

Be very careful, though. You don't want to beat up either the head or valve cover. One other BIG caution - don't let the broken off part of the bolt fall into the head - or fall through to the block and oil pan.

 

yesterday I took the valve cover off and was able to remove the remaining bolt off the head by hand . I'm much happier now.

when putting the valve cover back I did not put any gasket sealer. I hope this will not be a problem. Also I notice that there was a small scratch/scrape on the intake cam. Hope this is normal also. Kicking myself in the butt for not taking a picture of it.

Thanks everyone for the help.

 

I was under my hood today, trying to get to the bov clamps,,,, and then tried to see if the valve bolts were the same size, 10 mm,,,,,, they were and very loose.

I then tightened them with a 1/4 socket,, just snugg,,,,,,, so are these suppose to be 10 ft.lbs.. I read some where else they were suppose to be 75+ft. lbs.?

Any idea who much torque i put on these by just snugging up,,,, I mean they were really loose beofre.

Thanks

 

Check the shop manual for the exact same torque specs. Snug is good enough for those bolts. You don't want to tighten them too much as you end up pinching and breaking the valve cover gasket.

75 ft-lbs?!?!? That's how much I torque my lug nuts! According to the shop manual, torque spec for the valve cover bolts are 31 +/- 4 INCH-lbs, which is 2.25-3 FOOT-lbs.