Ultra Rusted Radiator Bolts

[Matt Kirsch]

The radiator may be a lost cause. I had a Cub in similar condition, and the bottom of the radiator was rotted out under the side supports.

Still, I was able to remove most of the bolts by finding a socket to drive over the remaining heads. There were three I had to weld nuts to. Didn't snap off a single bolt.

[randyny]

The extractors I just got worked wonderfully. It got the hardest-to-reach bolts on the engine side which was huge. The ones I couldn't get off I blasted the heads off with an air chisel. Using the radiator hold-downs as a template I was able to perfectly drill out the four busted bolts and used a tap to finish them off. Took maybe ten minutes per tap since I was scared to break it off in the hole. Everything cleaned up nicely after a wire brushing.

I will say that this was as perfect a situation to work on. Perfectly flat, horizontal, stable, and plenty of room to use a tap. I will have a far harder time with the lower dogleg screws.

[Bob McCarty]

Using a dremel, hack saw or cut off wheel, you can cut a slot in the dogleg screw head to use a large screw driver in. If they didn't get heated up with the radiator removal, you might want to give them some heat first. If you have to drill them out, on the right side you'll either need a drill bit extension or aircraft drill bits which I think are 6" long. Glad to see you got the bolster ready for the radiator.

[inairam]

While you have your drill bits out clean the vent hole on the fill plug on the steering box.