trying to fix the VIAS - stripped two screws, am i finished?
 

In trying to fix the VIAS, i stripped two of the 4 butter-soft screws (top right, bottom left), but got the other two out. I tried to use vice-grips but they aren't working. Anyone have any idea how to get out these two stripped to hell, soft screws?

I am on the verge of selling this car, I am so annoyed right now.

not sure if they make one for screws but you can go to autozone or pep boys and see if they have it, but when i snapped a couple of bolts back in the day, there is a kit that i used to have that had different tips that "drill" itself into the the broken/stripped bolt.
the way it worked was that the groves were revesered so that the drill bit would "drill" itself into the stripped bolt and get so far inside that it would actually pull the bolt out. kinda hard to explain by typing but go to your local auto parts store and get the kit. very usefull and can save having major reparis done.

it happeened to me years ago.. I used Vice-grips and a lot of patience to work with them. I replaced them with standard screws. remove everything around the screws and once you grab the screw with the VG, push it in and turn....

How did you remove everything around the bottom left screw? That screw is next to impossible to get to, because the main water valve system is underneath it that looks very tricky to remove. The bottom right screw is easy to remove once I moved the throttle body. I feel totally defeated right now. I sprayed the two remaining screws with a penetrant, but I doubt it will help much.

Turn to tighten first, then turn to un-tighten.

If ur stripped them beyond that, drill em out.

I had problems too. It really sucked when I finally did get those soft screws out, my VIAS was perfectly fine. Wasted a good 1-2 hrs, removing the intake box, and loosening the throttle body and cables.

I would try anything but drilling it first. If you drill it, you will most likely have to retap the threads. Getting the screw extractor kit like already mentioned would be my first step. I think I ended up using vice grips and a hammer.

are you using a screw driver or a power drill? Use a power drill with flat head attachment, i remember that made mine a breeze as i had the manifold on its side and press downward while slowly gunning the drill.

I am using a 3/8" ratchet with an extension and a flat head socket (its a big flat head that I chose to ensure I wouldn't run into this problem). As soon as I turned the ratchet, the flathead just twisted the head of the screw like butter.

I sprayed the areas now with penetrant. My biggest issue is getting to the bottom left screw - it is surrounded by stuff, making access with vicegrips and other tools very difficult.

There is no way I can use a power drill in that tight area. It has been suggested to grind a new groove into the screw, but considering how close I am to a fuel line, as well as the fact that its been covered in penetrant makes that a fire hazard, so I am not sure i want to go that route.

use an extended flex attachment on a power drill.

just put a few rags over the fuel lines to shield it from the sparks.

use a file to sharpen the teeth on your vice grips.. It works..

Oh, you're doing this while the IM is on the car? lol...that sucks.

Yea those screws aren't coming off with your little hand wrench. I had to literally put all my weight onto my side-stood manifold on the floor, with a power drill.

I replaced those screws with hex-bolts too. You're gonna need to remove your manifold man, only way to make it easy.

Okay guys, with some penetrant, and the vicegrips, I was able to remove the two destroyed bolts.

I am going to replace the bolts with something that uses a hex head. Does anyone know the tread pitch for these things?

I got replacement bolt - M6 x 16 with a hex head incase anyone wants to replace theirs.

Thanks for the news, I was just looking for a bolt. Same thing just happened to me but only one screw. What is the third dimension of the screw? M6 x 1 x 16 I found, but am not sure.

There was no other dimension written on the bin that I got it from in Home Depot.

What I did was walked with the OE bolt, found a nut it would thread into, then looked for a similar bolt (but with hex head), and once I found one that would fit the same nut I took it.

Ok, was it the same length as the stock one?

shorter by about 2-3 mm

brafasco might have had the exact length you needed

2mm shouldn't be too short since most of the threads will catch by then.

Ok, if you cant get it out with the Vice, use the biggest Flat screwdriver you can find and as with the Vice.. push it is and turn.. it will move... damn it hate you going thru that, if you were here in Florida i would have drive to your house and help you out.

well I didnt read the whole thing..glad you took it out.......