Removing rear seal block on a 272??

[GHerr1957]

I am attempting to rebuild a 57 - 272 and I am down to taking the crack out. There is a rear seal block that needs to be removed before I can take the rear main caps off. There appear to be two bolts holding the cap on, but there are no hex heads on the bolts. Is there a special tool needed to remove these or did the last guy to work on this possibly round off the nuts???

 

[Dave72dt]

12 point socket?

 

[GHerr1957]

The head on the bolt is absolutely round. Nothing for a socket to grab onto.

 

[Bob 37]

It probably has a Allen head bolt head. I seem to recall that being the case on some of these.

 

[V8 Bob]

I am attempting to rebuild a 57 - 272 and I am down to taking the crack out. There is a rear seal block that needs to be removed before I can take the rear main caps off. There appear to be two bolts holding the cap on, but there are no hex heads on the bolts. Is there a special tool needed to remove these or did the last guy to work on this possibly round off the nuts???

It takes a 3/8" drive 3/8" 12 point socket.

 

[Paul H]

You have one of the engines that require a hex allen wrench to remove the bolts.Use a small screwdriver or tool and clean out the recess in the center of the bolts.

 

[Hot Rod Reverend]

ditto on the other two posts....you should either have the 3/8" 12 point head, or the allen wrench recess in those two bolts. A hex head will not work. period.

 

[GHerr1957]

Thanks for the 12 point socket tip. It worked like a dream. I have been wrenching on Chevy engines for about 30 years and have never run across a bolt that needed a 12 point socket to remove. 6 points have always worked for anything I was working on.