Hey guys,

So, as you may or may not know, I'm swapping trannies. I bought a donor truck, which was a NY truck, which has a good amount of surface rust all over.

At any rate, the bolts on the engine/tranny itself are just fine, no issues...but the bolts from the crossmember to the frame...wow.

I got one side out, although the last bolt had to be cut, then ground until it would pop.

The other side, I got one bolt out, and got really aggravated, so I quit.

Basically, you need to get a wrench on the back side, and a socket on the front side, and the back side is up on top of the frame rail, and close examination shows that the heads aren't exactly...the shape/size they should have been anymore.

I've sprayed these fellas with PB about 5 times in so many days, so you'd think that'd help, but what I'm really having issue with is the wrench on top. Some bolts the 15mm works great, others it's too small...some it's too big. Grrr.

I was thinking about getting one of those sockets that has the pins on them that conform to any given shape, but wanted to ask in here and see if anyone had any ideas for me..?

 

cutting torches reach hard to get spots, good investment, or rent.

 

Right...thought of that, but really don't have access to one and it seems like a waste to rent one for 3 bolts.

 

How about grind the heads off & punch them out.
Jim

 

Honestly, that's probably the route I'll end up going...but what a slow, anger-invoking process!

 

If there is room for it, there is nothing slow about my 9-inch Milwaukee.


The Ford cross-members are originally riveted in, so I had no choice when it came time to remove mine.

 

in my experience using a grinder is often less aggravating and slow as compared to fighting with rusted bolts though.
I hate rust.

 

X2 I find that, given enough room, grinders are pretty fast...Mark

 

even used a sawzall with new metal blades, get you a few good jerks but if you don't have a grinder, it'll work

 

Another option in my arsenal is an abrasive cut-off wheel, either a 3-incher in a die-grinder, or a 4- or 4-1/2-incher in a side-grinder.

 

Honestly, I think someone mentioned this somewhere before, and I think I'm going to third it up and try this method. I'm on hold till tomorrow afternoon anyhow, so I'll just swing into Home Depot on the way home from work and buy a few wheels...and maybe a face mask.

 

face mask is a very good investment, along with a good pair of gloves, had and have seen many disks explode.

 

I have a real good 12" cold steel chisel (sharp) and a 3lb hammer! A couple good smacks will split the nut or sheer off the bolts head!!!!

 

Any of the above. Sometimes you cant fit a zip disk in some of those spots, and some of the bolt hardware is as hard as a sawzall blade... I find demolition blades for the sawzy are the sh.... They are a blade with crusties on them kind of like a zip disk...

 

Lemme at that thing with my air chisel!