914-6 ignition switch removal, Security heads on the screws, shear bolts, whatever they are Options

[Gint]

Any idea how to get the heads off of the front of the screws holding the ignition switch in? I've heard "break them off" and "drill them out". I suppose I could drill them out, but that doesn't seem quite right either. I get the concept of the heads on the front side of the dash preventing you from screwing the screws out from the back, but how to break those heads off is the question.

Any great ideas out there? The dash is lying on my living room floor and totally portable so access isn't an issue. Search came up with a few threads with suggestions as mentioned before but no real details.

[RON S.]

I've removed a lot of ignition switches from junked cars over the years,and almost every one of them had those ''Tamper Proof''bolts on them.

I've found out that they really are not fastened down all that tight.They are assembled with a shear off drive bit,and the shearing torque is really low when it was originally fastened down.

What I've found that has always worked for me is to grind a small pair of flats on the head,180 degrees apart with a Dremel,or a good file and grab the bolt head with a needle nose Vise Grip.Once the bolt turns just a little bit,you can twist it out the rest of the way by hand.

I've never had a pair of those bolts that I could not get out.A PITA for sure,but I've never resorted to a drill & re-threading.

Ron