[undy]

Brent, Try heating the aluminum around the dowels with a oxy/acetylene torch. You have to do it quick to avoid heat transfer as much as possible to the dowels. I've also used a steel hex nut that just barely slides over the dowel and welded the inside perimeter of the nut and dowel with my mig. Let it cool then heat the block and use a wrench or socket to spin it out.

Dave