Hey guys, I have to share something with you that I did. It's a cautionary tale, make sure you don't do what did - or didn't. Nothing bad came of it that I know of. And here's how it goes.

After putting the 72's engine and trans back in and getting her running, I was very happy with the outcome. The car ran great, shifted great, rode great, it was great. But every once in a while, I would hear a knock, but not like an engine knock. It would only happen if the idle dipped like when you are driving around the parking lot and you get that 'not quite a stall' thing. It was more like a clacking, one or two clacks then it would go away. It sounded like something was loose, almost like something tapping against the frame as it would really resonate unlike an engine knock that sounds kind of dead. I never really sweat it too much since it didn't do it every time, and when it did do it it went away pretty quick. But it was always in my mind that something wasn't quite right.

Fast forward to this week as I am taking almost everything apart as I prepare to do body work and clean up the frame and everyhting that goes with that. I'm going to remove the engine and trans separately so I don't have to push the car outside and do this in the snow. I'm under the car removing the torque converter bolts. As I put fingers on the first one, it's loose and I hear that same clack sound. Hey, I remember that sound! Wow, I had a tourque converter bolt loose - and not just loose. It was only about 1/2 way threaded on, thus the rattling sound when it wasn't under load. Wow. So I turn the engine a few degrees to get to the next one. It's just as loose. WTF? Now I'm worried. I get to the last one and it's snugged down, but not enough that I can't turn the bolt by hand. I can't believe I didn't tighted these things down - or did I?

I can't imagine these bolts and nuts wroking themselves loose with tapered threads. Has anyone else had this happen? I twitch every time I think of the times that I wrung her out or laid down some good rubber with these bolts loose. Jeez, that could have been bad. I have a new torque converter in there, too. Hopefully when I get the engine out this weekend, the holes on the flywheel and torque converter won't be out of shape. I think the bolts looked okay, But I'll have to look again to be sure.

The moral of this story is, don't answer the phone or your wife until you get out from under hte car. You are bound to forget to tighten something.

I can't imagine these bolts and nuts working themselves loose with tapered threads.
Tapered threads?

no tapered threads there, that's for pipe plugs.

They should be fine thread grade 8 bolts.

Or self tapping.

I'll bet you forgot to torque them. I almost did once, now I red loctite and double check.

He may have had crushed nuts, thus the feeling of the nuts and bolts getting tighter as it went on further...

He may have had crushed nuts, thus the feeling of the nuts and bolts getting tighter as it went on further...

OH GOD, i hate it when that happens.:eek:


:disco:

[QUOTE=twotone64;2683315]He may have had crushed nuts,

and i thought smashing my hand with hammaer was bad.

He may have had crushed nuts, thus the feeling of the nuts and bolts getting tighter as it went on further...

Yep. I got a bit screwed up on the nomenclature there.

I had the same thing happen when I was a kid. I was 17 and it was the first time I ever went to the track. I was right in the middle of a 9 second run and all the sudden the engine just revved up sky high. I coasted out, pushed the car back to the pits and found the torque converter bolts missing.
Good thing you found them before something serious happened.

Mike

Just to add I am pulling my eng/trans out this winter as well and last year when I put it together I used red lock-tite and it definately works.

It always amazes me that 3 or 4 bolts take all of the stress and torque to power a car or truck. I re loctite those rascals every time I put them in.

It always amazes me that 3 or 4 bolts take all of the stress and torque to power a car or truck. I re loctite those rascals every time I put them in. Yep, I hear that. I also used red loctite on the bolts on mine, and I also have a torque converter that has 6 mounting legs, and uses six 7/16" diameter bolts instead of the usual three 3/8" diameter bolts. I also had to purchase a CSR brand flexplate which has the bigger diameter holes for mounting the converter.

Threads tend to stretch on bolts and nuts and holes with threads as well. The more they are taken apart and put back together, the worse they become. In addition to that, thread "fit" can be a factor. The higher the percentage of "fit", the better they will hold each other together. Lastly, the hidden bastard in all motion; HARMONICS! Vibration takes it's toll on any well done job. Just some thoughts...

Make sure the bolts are not bottoming out in any way. Usually when I have seen this happen the bolts are a tad too long and torque was achieved by running the bolts until they hit the torque converter.

Otherwise, proper torque and thread locking fluid will keep them in place.

Check your flexplate for cracks when you get it apart.