Engine Removal, Half Shafts Options

[jfort]

Big adventure for me. Have never done this before by myself. Taking the engine out of my 70 914-6.

I got everything, I think, disconnected and/or removed today -- except the half shafts. My memory is failing me. 5-10 years ago, I bought and installed bolts that were drilled for safety wires, which I did. Now I can't remember if they were 6mm Allen, which seems to fit if I can get it squarely in, or was there a spline fitting? I found a single spline thing with my Allen sockets that is just about the same size, perhaps 8. Something tells me it might have been purchased for those bolts. I can get the 6mm in there, but I am not sure that is it and I don't want to round the inside of the fastener. The spline thing may be too big or I may not have it square. Scared to pound it in.

The bolts are tight. Aren't they always? They got a dose of pbBlaster for the night. I'll finish this tomorrow, I hope.

Are the OEM bolts 6mm? Did anyone here install the drilled bolts and can you tell me, Allen or spline? What size? Any tricks getting them loose? A universal with an extension? (I just have headers) Use an impact wrench? I must have done this part of the job before, but the memory thing . . .

I seem to recall torque wrenching them, too. What should they be torqued to?

Thanks in advance.

[Mark Henry]

8mm =31 ft/lb
10mm =55 ft/lb

It's a special hardness bolt.

[porschetub]

8mm =31 ft/lb
10mm =55 ft/lb

It's a special hardness bolt.

High tensile 12.9 from memory,I snuck mine up to 32ft/lbs ,they can take it no problem.
Make sure the joining faces are nice and clean,I didn't use gaskets as I didn't have them ...ok so far.

[Lucky9146]

8mm =31 ft/lb
10mm =55 ft/lb

It's a special hardness bolt.

High tensile 12.9 from memory,I snuck mine up to 32ft/lbs ,they can take it no problem.
Make sure the joining faces are nice and clean,I didn't use gaskets as I didn't have them ...ok so far.

I don't have gaskets and was suppose to get them today but have not heard from the guy. Anybody else run without gaskets? Essential or not?

[IronHillRestorations]

8mm =31 ft/lb
10mm =55 ft/lb

It's a special hardness bolt.

High tensile 12.9 from memory,I snuck mine up to 32ft/lbs ,they can take it no problem.
Make sure the joining faces are nice and clean,I didn't use gaskets as I didn't have them ...ok so far.

I don't have gaskets and was suppose to get them today but have not heard from the guy. Anybody else run without gaskets? Essential or not?

by request here's my .02
You definitely need gaskets. No gasket will mean grease everywhere. I"ve never put them in without, ever. Make sure that the gasket is seated in it's recess before you start tightening the bolts.

The bolts you've shown look serviceable, but the pic is slightly blurry, just make sure the points are nice and crisp and nothing is rounded out.

Always use new schnoor washers, they are a one and done piece, so always get at least twice what you need in the event you've got to take them off.

There is a high quality re-useable locking fastener that later 911 guys are using, but they are over $10 each, but I've never had one in my hand. Stage8 makes some with a retainer and snap ring, but I'd only go to that trouble or safety wiring for a race car.

What I do is put it all together finger tight, without the schnoor washers, and then individually take off each bolt, clean it and the threaded holes, put the washer on and barely snug it until I get all 4 done that way.

I like to incrementally tighten them up in a crosswise pattern, until you get to the 31ft lb (min) spec. I think Sir Eric goes with 35 ft lb, 4 more ft lb isn't going to snap those 12.8 bolts.

Guys have gone to great lengths to make sure the bolts stay put, including loctite, drilling and safety wire, but I've had no problems when I've done it like this.