Tunnel plate installed!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
Tunnel plate installed!
First, let me thank all those who answered on my post about installing the LAPD tunnel plate. I did what was suggested, unhooking the front exhaust connection and disconnecting the bolts on the rear hanger and let the pipes down. It was then quite easy to slip the new plate in and reinstall. I added the 1/4 plate along with the OEM plate. I do have one question, I noticed that one poster stated that he re-torqued the bolts that hold the plate in as they apparently came loose. Could the plate hold down bolts be installed with Loctite to prevent this?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: broussard La
SURE WHY NOT? Thats the way I installed my plate. I used LOCTITE RED Permanent 271. I don't plan on ever taking the plate down ever. I also believe inNEVER-SEIZE on bolts that I don't want to stick...
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,303
Likes: 151
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Locktite on the tunnel plate...
I installed an Elite Engineering tunnel plate about six months ago.
I found the the bolts needed re-torqueing a couple of times after the install.
The question about using Locktite has come up a couple of times. There is a reason that I did NOT us Locktite - I think the plate needs re-torquing due to the plate settling into the base of the Corvette, not that the bolts are vibrating loose.
If you use Locktite it will be difficult to snug the bolts back to the required torque. You cannot check the torque of a bolt with Locktite on it.
The first time that I checked the torque (after about 1 week of driving) every bolt took about 1/4 to 1/2 of a turn to get back to the 89 inch pounds.
The next time I checked, after about a month of driving and a track day they all needed less the 1/4 of a turn.
The last time that I checked, (after about four months of driving) none of them needed any tightening. If I had used Loctite at first, I feel the tunnel plate would not have been correctly torqued after a couple of weeks driving and the plate settling into the Corvette.
I DO NOT THINK THE TUNNEL PLATE BOLTS ARE VIBRATING LOOSE - THE PLATE IS SETTLING IN AND LOCKTITE WILL NOT HELP AND MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS.
Cheers - Jim
I found the the bolts needed re-torqueing a couple of times after the install.
The question about using Locktite has come up a couple of times. There is a reason that I did NOT us Locktite - I think the plate needs re-torquing due to the plate settling into the base of the Corvette, not that the bolts are vibrating loose.
If you use Locktite it will be difficult to snug the bolts back to the required torque. You cannot check the torque of a bolt with Locktite on it.
The first time that I checked the torque (after about 1 week of driving) every bolt took about 1/4 to 1/2 of a turn to get back to the 89 inch pounds.
The next time I checked, after about a month of driving and a track day they all needed less the 1/4 of a turn.
The last time that I checked, (after about four months of driving) none of them needed any tightening. If I had used Loctite at first, I feel the tunnel plate would not have been correctly torqued after a couple of weeks driving and the plate settling into the Corvette.
I DO NOT THINK THE TUNNEL PLATE BOLTS ARE VIBRATING LOOSE - THE PLATE IS SETTLING IN AND LOCKTITE WILL NOT HELP AND MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS.
Cheers - Jim
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 134
From: merritt island fl
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I installed an Elite Engineering tunnel plate about six months ago.
I found the the bolts needed re-torqueing a couple of times after the install.
The question about using Locktite has come up a couple of times. There is a reason that I did NOT us Locktite - I think the plate needs re-torquing due to the plate settling into the base of the Corvette, not that the bolts are vibrating loose.
If you use Locktite it will be difficult to snug the bolts back to the required torque. You cannot check the torque of a bolt with Locktite on it.
The first time that I checked the torque (after about 1 week of driving) every bolt took about 1/4 to 1/2 of a turn to get back to the 89 inch pounds.
The next time I checked, after about a month of driving and a track day they all needed less the 1/4 of a turn.
The last time that I checked, (after about four months of driving) none of them needed any tightening. If I had used Loctite at first, I feel the tunnel plate would not have been correctly torqued after a couple of weeks driving and the plate settling into the Corvette.
I DO NOT THINK THE TUNNEL PLATE BOLTS ARE VIBRATING LOOSE - THE PLATE IS SETTLING IN AND LOCKTITE WILL NOT HELP AND MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS.
Cheers - Jim
I found the the bolts needed re-torqueing a couple of times after the install.
The question about using Locktite has come up a couple of times. There is a reason that I did NOT us Locktite - I think the plate needs re-torquing due to the plate settling into the base of the Corvette, not that the bolts are vibrating loose.
If you use Locktite it will be difficult to snug the bolts back to the required torque. You cannot check the torque of a bolt with Locktite on it.
The first time that I checked the torque (after about 1 week of driving) every bolt took about 1/4 to 1/2 of a turn to get back to the 89 inch pounds.
The next time I checked, after about a month of driving and a track day they all needed less the 1/4 of a turn.
The last time that I checked, (after about four months of driving) none of them needed any tightening. If I had used Loctite at first, I feel the tunnel plate would not have been correctly torqued after a couple of weeks driving and the plate settling into the Corvette.
I DO NOT THINK THE TUNNEL PLATE BOLTS ARE VIBRATING LOOSE - THE PLATE IS SETTLING IN AND LOCKTITE WILL NOT HELP AND MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS.
Cheers - Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 134
From: merritt island fl
C1 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2016 C1 of the Year Finalist
2015 C2 of the Year Finalist