Good left hand drill bits - where to buy

W_B

Well-known Member
I have need of a left hand drill bit for a couple of broken off bolts in an automotive application. Where can I buy some good ones that won't snap on me, need something at least 5-6 inches long.

If that doesn't work I will need to take the intake manifold off to drill them out and clean up or re-tap the holes. Really don't want to have to do that as I fear there are other bolts that are siezed and would have to be dealt with, making this job bigger and bigger... started out to just replace the thermostat but both bolts holding the housing on snapped and it bolts through the intake manifold into the head. Dang Ford!
 
You can try Northern Tool, Grainger, ACE Hardware,Sears, Lowes,Menards,and Harbor Freight. They all have left hand drill bits just have to look and see if they have what you need.
 
I just bought one like you're talking down at the local Car Quest auto parts store. I think it was 1/4 inch and about 5 inches long. Was a brand name good usa made one and didn't cost a lot.
 
i have a couple sets, one snap on and one mac. both work good. nice thing if the bits break or dull, they replace them free.
 
May as well pull the intake, those 4.6/5.4 intakes are notorious for leaking there and on the other side. The other bolts should come out OK. Not too bad of a job, just did one on the town police car. Make sure to check the intake plastic where the crossover joins, they tend to fall apart. Had to replace the intake on the one I just did.
 
Try "Manhatten Tool Supply". Very large inventory of drill bits. Their catalog is about 5 inches thick. You can also look them up on line
 
Learned this from a Wisconsin V-4 mechanic.First
thing to remove head bolts--a stout punch and a 2lb
hammer--give each one good rap. Theory is the impact
breaks the rust crystals on the threads. I've used
this on manifold bolts.
 

MSC, Enco, Manhattan or any machine shop supply place. Most good sized towns have an industrial supply place that might be able to help. Good drills will not come from Harbor Freight, Northern Tool or Lowes.
 
(quoted from post at 12:26:57 03/19/15)
MSC, Enco, Manhattan or any machine shop supply place. Most good sized towns have an industrial supply place that might be able to help. Good drills will not come from Harbor Freight, Northern Tool or Lowes.

Thanks for the advice, Bret... that's why I ask about GOOD ones. BTW, Lowes doesn't carry them, at least in our local store.
 
(quoted from post at 20:26:33 03/18/15) May as well pull the intake, those 4.6/5.4 intakes are notorious for leaking there and on the other side. The other bolts should come out OK. Not too bad of a job, just did one on the town police car. Make sure to check the intake plastic where the crossover joins, they tend to fall apart. Had to replace the intake on the one I just did.

Trying to avoid doing that but did find a 29 min. YouTube vid from a Ford tech that shows the entire procedure if I need to do it. Mine is a 2000 5.4 in an Expedition so I'm thinking I will have some seized bolts somewhere in there. Just don't really have the time to devote to it with so many other pressing things that need done in the spring, but if I have to I will. Thanks for the advice.
 
Hanson set of 4 sizes of left hand drill bits and
matching easy outs in a steel case. Had mine for
20+ years, only had one bolt that the left hand bit
didn't take out and had to use the ez out. Never
had to sharpen any of the bits yet either.
 
Well for me it is a short ride out to Ohio Drill in Homeworth ohio , a little pin head on a map of a town but they have the best drill bits that i have ever found. When i go out for my VISIT i take my drill index with me and set it on the contour and the take it and refill and resharpen all the bits . Are they CHEAP , well if ya want cheap then go to harbor freight if ya want quality then you pay a little more.
 

I did not know that. I was buying from them when they were "j&l", and continued when they changed the name. My orders ship from Reno and get here in 2 days or less.one advantage of a big company like this is that they carry one particular item in many ranges of quality hardness, and cost and are honest about it.

I started my career as a VW/Porsche tech in the early 70s and drilling out broken exhaust studs is something i have always been good at, and have done a lot of. The tool i linked earlier is the best i have used for drilling, but found the easyout part worthless.
 
MSC ships from several locations. Our stuff comes
from Harrisburg, Pa. I have been doing business with
them since about 1978. If you have a tool that needs
repair parts they will do their utmost to find out
where it can be repaired. My new catalog from them
is unreal and it gets sent free of charge.
 

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