Working on my friends '66 Dart 225 to replace cracked and leaking exhaust, stud at back of engine had been replaced with a bolt, which sheared off during removal (seemed awfully soft). I tried to easy-out by center-punching and drilling, but as usual that did not work so well. Tried to set easy-out by hammering, but bolt threads let go and, here it is, the bolt shaft pushed into the head and dropped into the cooling jacket.

Can't do much about unless I want to remove the head (no). What will happen if I leave it? I'm thinking the short piece of metal will just drop to the bottom of the water jacket and stay there. Worst case is that it will block a small passage, or (unlikely) get sucked into the water pump. I'm inclined to call it good and move on.

Any thoughts? Anybody have one opened up?

Thanks,

jb

My Dart went through several owners before I go it. When we rebuilt it.....wow!

We hot tanked the block for a few days and I couldn't believe all the metal that came out.
About a half of a coffee can of crap, rusted chunks, bolts, metal flakes, drill bits, helicoils, plus a coat hanger! I never new all that was in there.......good case for putting a screen in the water pump line!

Just keep antifreeze in it so it doesn't rust. I don't think it will hurt a thing.

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

The coolent flows into the block from the water pump, goes to the rear of the block, comes up into the head, then flows forward thru the head to the thermostat cover and then out into the radiator.
Based on the flow, the bolt pieces would end-up in the radiator, not the water pump.
Truth is, the bolt will stay right where it is and not hurt a thing.
DD

What appeared to be a coat hanger was probably the wire used to hold some of the cores in place during the casting process. I had all that leftover casting junk in my slant six, too.

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'68 Dodge Dart 4dr Sedan

I'm gonna vote for the chunk winding up in the base of the cooling jackets below the freeze plugs; as much crap as Ive seen built up there in engines that Ive worked on, there's probably a layer of rust/sediment there already that your bolt stub will get buried in. But I'll agree that it'll probably wind up somewhere that won't hurt a thing. I suppose that it could get caught up in the T stat but I doubt it. But I know that lingering feeling; I know its in there....

Thanks for the observations. I feel better.

jb

This is what I found when changing the thermostat in my 64. The thermostat was dated 2-64 and looked to be original. I was shocked that debris like that could have been in the water jacket in the thermostat area without causing problems. SSD said finding items like these is a common occurrence.

I pulled 5 or 6 wires like that out of my head. They were used to secure the sand cores during the casting process. After casting the sand was shaken and perhaps flushed out but the wires were left behind. Those are prefectly normal and not at all extraordinary.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

Interesting

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1969-1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-spd, Dana 60)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (4-spd, 8.75")
1973 Plymouth Duster (225, auto, 8.25")
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 QC 2wd (5.9L, auto, Dana 60)

i got a "hanger" out of my slant today!


D~~~!