<VV> Loose top cover bolts

[Cliff Tibbitts]

Clark and Timothy, 

When I pulled my "junkyard" 140 HP out of the car to replace it with the
freshened up engine, I noticed the top cover and surrounding area were
fairly clean and free of oil.  I also noticed the original washer-head bolts
had been replaced with 3/8" cap screws with lock washers.  Guess what I'll
be using for the top cover bolts in the future?  I believe the washer head
screws have already loosened on my new engine after about a year and 9000
miles. 

Cliff Tibbitts
Lexington, KY
66 Monza 140/4 speed


Hi Clark, I have done that as well but have never had your success with oil
leaks out of the bolt holes I drilled. Maybe not enough "gunk"? Like Frank,
I lost sleep at nite worrying about bolts dropping into the crankcase.
Either way, I gave up on that idea and went back to using what the general
used and just figured I would have to tighten up the bolts with flat washers
as part of regular maintenance. I just check them every time I drop a valve
seat every 2-3 years.
Timothy Shortle in Durango Colorado 81301

>From: Clark Hartzel <chartzel at comcast.net>
>
>I believe the bolts loosen up because they are clamping two gaskets 
>together.  If the tin baffle was mounted to either the block or the 
>cover you would only need one gasket.  I have cut the perimeter off the 
>baffle and then bolted it under the top cover with four bolts.  Yes you 
>have to drill thru the cover but just glop some Permatex on the bolts and
they never leak.
>In fact you could Permatex the joint between the cover and the block 
>and eliminate the gasket completely.  Now you have metal to metal 
>contact and the screws won't loosen.
>Clark Hartzel
>
>