Bed bolts snapped off. How do I repair.

[Blazer25l0]

Taking the bed off my 88 short bed to repaint the truck.The 4 bolts sheared off. The 4 stud nuts came off no problem . How do I fix the sheared bolts in the bed.

[Airborne Janitor]

Do you have access to an oxy-acetylene torch? I'd heat the area around the stud, clamp on the threads with the biggest pair of vicegrips you can find and hope for the best. That's assuming you got something to bite to. Otherwise drill them out and retap to a larger size. Never had any luck using those stud extractors. 

[75sv1]

I'd also spray them down with Kroil or some other penetrating oil. Heat does good. Sort of expands and 'breaks' the rust hold. Still, many times, the rust is like it welds together.  Sometimes I can drill them through, then heat. I've had very limited success with the screw extractors. I have broken some and then that's a real problem. Sometimes I'll grind or use a carbide burr to 'section' the bolt, and break it apart. They did that to my wisdom teeth. Yeah, that was fun.

[Blazer25l0]

What is the bolts size. What would be the next size up to drill out and retap?

[Pete M]

if any of the bolt is exposed, you can tack weld a nut to it.   

[Airborne Janitor]

Oh that's a good idea, and the heat from the weld should help the threads break free as well.