Chevrolet Repair: V8 starter bolts broken off in block, metric bolts, insurmountable obstacle

Question
I have a 97 Suburban 5.7, the outside start bolt is broken off in the block, I have tried the obvious; drill, ez-outs, I can't get the bolt out and I am concerned with breaking the corner off of the block.

Answer
Hi Les,
I have been in those situations where a five-minute job grows to an insurmountable obstacle.
I don't understand the concern about breaking off the corner of the block....unless you slipped off the bolt with the drill, and drilled block instead.
It might be time to minimize your losses, and take it to a shop that has done several of them, and hope you didn't damage it to where even they can't get it.
Someone real good with a cutting torch can blow the bolt out of the block without damaging the block....believe it or not.

Left-hand drill bits can also be helpful, but after a bit has wandered out of the bolt, and into the block threads, it becomes much more difficult to remove a broken one.

Another problem is....there is a difference in bolts. There are some metric bolts, and some standard bolts. If the wrong ones were used, it can be a drill and tap job.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.


Van