Econoline heat shield

[sendin]

2002 E350 S/D 7.3 turbo -

Two nuts hold the heat shield and the fwd one is just spinning, not coming loose; stripped threads. My bolt splitter is too big and I can't get to the bracket mount bolt to get the heat shield bracket loose either.

Was in the process of checking the valve on the water/separator/fuel filter drain.

This isn't do or die, but I know someday I will need to get that heat shield off and I figured I'd better try to fix it now.

Any mechanic's tricks for a stripped nut that is REALLY hard to get to?

Thanks - Denny

[jpms]

just have to be creative sometimes, sawzal, die wheel, air chisel, long chisel and hammer, hack saw blade in the handle blade holder they make, my favorate=smoke wrench(torch) with it spinning vise grips to hold it still helps too
if it is the bolt I am thinking it is, air chisel is what I would use
once its out, just tack weld a new bolt or all thread back in, good to go again

[sendin]

I went at it with a hand-held hack-saw blade because my wife had the dremmel (she uses it for the dogs nails at the agility trials) although I don't think the dremmel would've reached. Ran out of daylight and saved it for another day. Chisel would work if I could get something to back it up. Trying not to cluge it up since it is new to me and I like clean work when I can swing it. I should be able to get it out and put in more reliable fastener in there later.

Learning alot on this forum so far and getting ready to do the gauges, intake and chip. E350 is interesting when it comes to upgrades. Thanks for your reply jpms - Denny