Had a SCARE

[calwldlife]

Hello
I am orig owner of a 81.
Took a nice cruise and when I got home, heard a "knock" at idle.
A quick investigation found the sound to come from rear pan area.
Temps good, pressure good,.....................................
damn................ rod bearing?

Car was hot and so was I......................
Parked it and went inside.
Mind started mulling over possibilities......................

I planned an attack to find just what the noise was.
Up on ramps it went. On my back I went.

Checked oil and filter for metal.................none.
Pulled flywheel inspection cover.

Ureka.......... 2 out of 3 flexplate to torque converter loose.
Inspected bolts and retightened.......................
Problem fixed.

How lucky was that?

 

[bill81vette]

1st,Welcome to CAC!!!
2nd,nice save,on the flex plate,I've heard of this happening before....
3rd,hope you enjoy the forums!!!!
4th be sure to register you '81 in the l-81 registry if you haven't done so already.....
last but not least....post a few pics of you vette!!!

 

[calwldlife]

Thanks for the welcome !!
I have been reading here on/off for a couple years
I'll get the digital cam out

 

[muddywaters]

Check those bolts often, I would use Red Loc-tite, just my 2 cents.

 

[smithjw]

I'd like to check this out on mine, but could someone give a little more detail. Where is the flywheel inspection cover located, how do I remove it, and where are the bolts that might be loose? I do have some knocking at idle that I have never been able to determine the source of. Thanks for any help on this.

 

[GerryLP]

Wldlife,

A lot of us know exactly what you mean. When it hits you, you can't stop thinking about it. You did right in not panicking (sometimes is hard not to).

One time I thought I had ruined my tranny when I hit a big rock on the road at around 45 mph. The knocking was loud, and it even created vibrations on the frame. I called my best friend Gerry Watts (may he rest in peace), who came out on a late Sunday night to rescue me. It was dark, and with not tools or light, I waited for him. He came out and we started investigating the noise and vibes, and it turn-out that the converter cover had been smashed in pretty badly. A 2x4 and the rock that hit the tranny served to straighten it out. To this day, the cover shows the veteran marks of that road side repair. Godspeed to Gerry Watts!

GerryLP:cool

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I'd like to check this out on mine, but could someone give a little more detail. Where is the flywheel inspection cover located, how do I remove it, and where are the bolts that might be loose? I do have some knocking at idle that I have never been able to determine the source of. Thanks for any help on this.

The inspection cover is a sheet metal piece in the front of the transmission bellhousing. It is held in place by 4 bolts that are in the edge of the bellhousing directly in front of the transmission fluid pan.
Take those bolts off, and you will be able to remove the inspection cover. From there you can see one or two of the bolts that hold on the torque converter. To see all of them the crankshaft must be rotated.

 

[calwldlife]

It is something they way the Mind wanders.............
I was on the freeway running hard.
Now a days 80 mph is common.
Running 3200 rpms for 30 miles, did keep my attention.
I imagined the worst (of course) that a bearing failed.
I can't express the relief I felt when I found the prob.
I used some non hardening permatex and tightened them
Gooood
I guess its time to get off my butt and put the 2004r
I purchased 6 years ago in