WinstonTheWolf

My 86' has been running terrible since reinstalling the tpi intake. Took the plenum off today and the 2 bolts on the backside of the runners were not even hand tight. How did I miss tightening those? Ruined the upper runner gasket while taking it off, so hopefully a quick trip to O'Reilly's and she's back in business. Nothing will humble you like a C4.

VetteMed

don't feel too bad, I trashed a $50 set of LT5 header gaskets by forgetting to tighten the bolts...

JackDidley

Yea, stuff happens. Everybody screws up, some just dont admit it. At least you were able to fix it with no major hassle.

kenv

87 vette 81 big girl

Everyone has a bad day every now & then turning wrenches at home or for a living.

chit happens at the worst times.

At least you found the problem.

Your Vette will run tip top again soon with Fresh Fel- Pro upper plenum gaskets torqued down.

I use a torque wrench intentional most of the time repairing or assembling engines even for the most meaningless fasteners...

Even alternator brackets.
That way I know/ can keep track of fasteners that I torqued down or not.

You can take a white or pink paint pen & mark each bolt or fastener you torqued down or got hand tight.

Like a check list.

BR

Calderone

Yep a check list is a must , then you tick what's done

WinstonTheWolf

A checklist?? Next you will be telling me I should label each wire & vac line when I unhook them. Both of these things are great ideas, but not very manly sort of like a fanny pack.

Midnight 85

You were given good solid advice and you come back with that attitude??? You must be one hell of a mechanic, you don't need us "unmanly" types. See ya.

87 vette 81 big girl

If you swallow your pride & used the "Fanny pack"...................

You never would have missed the loose & un-torqued rear upper plenum bolts............

You never would have to troubleshoot needless for hours on end why your C4 ran like chit.

Every top end quality engine build or entire car build starts with a check list.

From what I read in the past in vintage books & articles.......

Even Mickey Thompson had check sheets.
I would not call him a sissy.
That man seen more close calls to death than any of us on C4.
He was the type to kick your *** too if you belittled him.

Makes old "Mick" OK in my book & a Great Role Model.

Pwnage1337

Don't worry, he could probably tear apart his entire car and put it back together without labeling any fasteners or parts.

Kmcoldcars

Hey guys, recognize humor when you see it.

joe paco

next time add some smilies, Winston. makes the sarcasm obvious.

you did leave bolts untightened, correct?

what is "manly" about reassembing bolts?

forums are like walking into a strage bar: you don't know what lurks, but you have to take whatever is there.

saludos, joe

engle1147

87 vette 81 big girl

OK.

I get it.

I don't care who you are.

A checklist is a must.

Especially with daily chaos at work, home, kids, wife, ect.

I have seen several younger GM mechanics forget to add oil to a freshly installed engine.
Ran the engine & it locked up...........blew.

In a rush to make flat rate $$$$$$$.

I pull the dipstick out 6 inches & leave it there, & the engine oil fill cap.

My reminder to add engine oil & check the dipstick oil level reading too.

Brian

WW7

What good is a check list if your drinking beer while working on your motor??? ..WW

dclafleur

Oh sure, you probably label your bolts too when you take them out instead of just tossing them in a big pile on the top of your work cart.

stoydido

I think it depends. Tearing the top off my l98 for first time, I made a note list, same thing, something to which I could refer when something didn't seem to fit back together. Changing my oil, no. I personally need a system, maybe not checklist per se.
even if you know the firing order, don't you tag/iID your wires at the distributor?
did you read the post here, last couple days, about the guy who put the heads on his lt1 on opposite sides? guess when he first discovered it. (grin.)

jc

dclafleur

yeah, my hands are too fat to reroute the dang spark plug wires and trace them back so I always have labels on the plug wires.

WinstonTheWolf

Jeezy Creezy, sarcasm guys... lists are a good idea.

87 vette 81 big girl

No one is getting any YOUNGER here on C4 tech.

LOL


Spouses/ Wives or girlfriend's never stop nagging too long either.

My entire adult life I have heard....................

"You Love that car more than me ???? !!!!".



Brian