Quick input

[phil_long]

I need to replace my hood shocks, which should be straight forward, but the head broke off one of the bolts. Need the easiest and safest way of getting this bolt out without ruining the hole itself.  is it possible?  Thanks.  I can send a photo if needed.

[Steve Wood]

Vice grips if there is a shoulder to grad or drill it out

Steve

[Steve Wood]

Vise grips

Steve

[phil_long]

Ill double check to see if there is enough showing to grab.

[TexasT]

Left handed drill bit and hope the heat loosens it. PB blaster, kroil, candle wax or something to help it get loose before attempting further. If it broke the head off it is obviously stuck.

[Forzfed]

I agree with everyone.  You could also try an easy out.

[phil_long]

Ok, I guess i can stop masking my mistake and admit that I turned the bolt the wrong way with the ratchet.  By the time I realized it it was too late.

[tb3]

 

is the car driveable?  it may be easier for me to get what's left of that lil bugger outta there for you, rather than try to explain and what tools to buy.
more than likely it's going to need to be drilled out and cleaned up with a tap

[phil_long]

Oh yeah, its extremely driveable.  I changed the oil and installed new vacuum lines and a new vacuum block about a month ago. How you ask?  Think cardboard and jack stands.  Lol. And that'd be great if you could help me out man.  What kinda beer do you prefer?

[earlbrown]

Since you ripped the head off that means it didn't fail from being rusted in place.  Once the heads off, all the pressure is off the threads. Try pliers on the protruding threads and see if that'll get it out If it doesn't want to come easily (I hate that) cut a slot in the exposed threads with a Dremal cutoff wheel or a hacksaw blade. Then see if you can spin it out with a small flat head.

It it won't come out easy, drill the center with a small drill.  That bracket isn't a blind hole, once the drill bites into the workpiece, it should spin right through cleanly.

[tb3]

Oh yeah, its extremely driveable.  I changed the oil and installed new vacuum lines and a new vacuum block about a month ago. How you ask?  Think cardboard and jack stands.  Lol. And that'd be great if you could help me out man.  What kinda beer do you prefer?

anything that's not anheiser Busch/Inbev.   but lately I've been stuck on magic hat
but what earl and Steve and the others said.  give it it a go first and see if you can get it out.  out of all the stuff that's needs to be precise with these cars, this is one that's not all that critical

[daveismissing]

 
Pretty lame whey you guys are talking yourselves out of getting together for some
brewskies. 

and they claim We are the old farts....

 

[deathraider6996]

Ill join for some! Let me just grab a plane ticket

Sent while curing depression with boost.

[phil_long]

    Come one come all!!!!  And thats a great point. I dont believe the bolt is rusted in there so i might be ok.  I'll keep you guys posted. More beer for me(I dont drink and work on my buick).

[granitestategn]

Here's what I would do, in this order:
1.) soak it in PB Blaster
2.) try vise grips, if there's enough sticking out
3.) if you use vise grips and snap what's left off, grind it flat, center punch and use a left handed drill bit (left handed drill bits rock)
4.) if you go all the way through and it still didn't come loose, use an easy out but it will probably snap off
5.) an alternate path at #2 is to take a nut about the same size as the headless bolt and put it over the piece sticking out and weld the nut to the broken bolt and use a socket to try to get it out....then proceed to step #3 after you break that off (I choose which path to take depending on how much time and effort I want to waste)
6.) when all else fails, have some beers and lament on how it sucks to have to work on cars instead of pay someone else to do it
When I was in the service I got really good at getting stripped flat head phillips machine screws out of AIM-9 missile launcher racks with a hammer and a punch....it's a good life skill.