You know how we're always getting helpful "tips" here on the forum -- well here's mine. Get your socket set and screwdrivers out and spend a hour or so checking all your bolts and screws! It sounds dumb, but I had some time this weekend, it was around dusk so I couldn't do much, and I decided to check all the visible bolts and screws I could find before it got dark. My car is in good shape, but I couldn't believe what I found!

1. Two of my header bolts were a bit loose. No big deal.
2. One of my alternator bracket bolts were loose. Tightened it up and it stopped a shimmy that I was getting on my Ammeter (the loose bracket was probably causing some slack in the belt)
3. My rag-joint bolts were loose, and this helped a little slack I was feeling in my steering (not completely fixed, but improved)
4. The bolts that hold the steering column up under the dash were also loose, and tightening them completely eliminated road and engine vibration that I was feeling in the wheel!
5. I was missing several screws that hold my compartment frames down to the fiberglass. Replaced those and how this annoying squeaking I had coming from the back compartment went away.

So, for an hour of my time I fix several problems at a cost of $0! My tip for the week!

 

Ah.... but the obvious question is... did you check your nuts as well?

 

:lol:

 

Two weeks ago I picked up a Clink ... Clink ... Clink from just after start off and 15 MPH. It sounded like it was coming from the right rear. I pulled the trim ring and center cap on the right rear wheel thinking (hoping) it was a spring or pebble rolling around in one of them. Nothing... Nada.... pulled right front trim ring and center cap and found a lug nut rolling around in the center cap. I agree ... take your torque wrench out and go over the car once in awhile.

 

Thanks for the tip. :yesnod:
My car is on jackstands - now would be a good time to check all that stuff.

 

C.C.,
Good tip, cause a while back i had loose nuts on the upper control arm and once they were tightened , it handles much better.

 

D'Oh! You beat me to it, Tom. :lol: :lol: :lol:

When my son was racing, the first thing we did in the prep for the next race was to check every nut and bolt on that car. We got to where we could do it in less than 30 minutes. But you would be amazed how many we found loose. Yes, it was a race car, and we were running it signicantly harder than your average street Vette. But still, the total running time between checks (practice and race) was less than 2 hours a week.

In short, good tip! :yesnod:

:cheers:

 

When I first started working on my engine (before rebuild) I noticed the guy who owned the car before me must not have had a set
of wrenche or something like that.
I could not believe how many nuts were just hand tight ( carb, headers, intake manifold etc. ).
All the aftermarket bolt on parts were torqued to about 1 foot pound ! I'm surprised the car even ran. :smash:

 

Two weeks ago I picked up a Clink ... Clink ... Clink from just after start off and 15 MPH.

But I wasn't chasing after your car?? :confused: :lol: :lol: