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.

[IronHillRestorations]

Stock 914 4 and 6 CV bolts are 12 point triple square allen, so you need to clean them off and get a close look. If you use a 6 point allen you'll strip them.

I clean them really good and tap them in the socket before leaning on them. If you don't seat it in the socket, you can strip it.

[mobymutt]

I used an extension (no universal) to get the socket wrench out past my heat exchangers. I have a -4 though. And mine came loose quite easily.

[Dave_Darling]

Stock is M8 "triple square". Allen-head (internal hex) is a common-ish aftermarket replacement.

Clean out the heads with brake cleaner or similar and inspect. It should be reasonably obvious if the heads are hex or triple-square.

--DD

[mepstein]

If you used 911 cv’s, they are 6mm

[Larmo63]

These only get torqued to 18.4 ft.lbs, so they shouldn't be too tough to get out.

Get the right bit, or you'll have troubles. It's fun to grind one off under the car, ask me how I know.

[jfort]

Thanks guys. I'll try to inspect them more closely. What I called a spline socket may be a triple square and it does have an 8 on it.

[IronHillRestorations]

Also, you need new schnoor washers everytime you torque the CV bolts

[Mark Henry]

Stock 914 4 and 6 CV bolts are 12 point triple square allen, so you need to clean them off and get a close look. If you use a 6 point allen you'll strip them.

I clean them really good and tap them in the socket before leaning on them. If you don't seat it in the socket, you can strip it.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Like Totally (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Whole secret to these bolts, the right bit and clean out all the crap in the hole.

[falcor75]

First time I loosened my driveshafts on the 914 I WD-40'd the heads of the screws and then blew them clean with compressed air. Easy to tap the XZN bit home with a small hamer after that.

[76-914]

I clean them really good and tap them in the socket before leaning on them. If you don't seat it in the socket, you can strip it.

This is some of the best advise you can receive. Do this and you won't round off the the bolt.

These only get torqued to 18.4 ft.lbs, so they shouldn't be too tough to get out.

Hmmmm. I thought it was 31 ft lb's. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Mark Henry]

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

It's a special hardness bolt.

[IronHillRestorations]

If you've only torqued them to 18.4 Lawrence, you need to cinch them puppies up a bit.

[jfort]

Thanks for all the input. Last night I confirmed they are Allen, not triple square. They came out easily with a 6mm Allen on a socket and extension and with the tap of a hammer and a big screw driver the half shafts are out of the way.

Hope to drop the engine after work today.

[rjames]

Some of the ones that were drilled for safety wire were allen bolts, not the triple square type. Aftermarket- I think a 914 world member sold them here.

[VaccaRabite]

If the bolts are drilled for safety wire, they likely are NOT stock and NOT a triple square. They will likely be a metric hex pattern allen.

Get a set of allen wrenches for a ratchet wrench. Clean the goop out of the socket and test fit.

Like everyone else said, use the right tool. Removing these things after they have stripped isn't any fun. I keep the CV bolt that I had to weld the allen tool to for extraction at my desk at work as a reminder that cutting corners doesn't pay in the long run.

Zach

[Larmo63]

Oops, yes, 31 ft.lbs.

I did torque mine correctly.

[Lucky9146]

Wow this is a great thread and extremely timely for my build thanks for all the info it really comes in handy. Should be putting back together tomorrow. Sure helps to poke around here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/type.gif)

[Andyrew]

I hate getting the bolts on the trailing arm side off due to no visibility.
My practice now is to remove the big bolt on the stub axle. Sure it takes a breaker bar and a cheater bar, but it once you do it the first time its not half bad. Saves about 30 minutes of struggling. I keep a spare CV bolted to a stub axle for quick replacement on track.

[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.