tightening flex plate bolts

golfer9619 · Jan 19, 2015

My upcoming project for next weekend will be inspecting the flexplate / torque converter bolts to make sure they are fully tightened. I have a few questions, 1. The inspection plate is located directly behind the oil drain bolt correct? On the bottom of the front of the transmission? And 2. Once I remove the inspection plate, is transmission fluid going to come out? I have searched everywhere and cant seem to locate any thing. If any one can show me a picture of the inspection plate, that would be very helpful! And of course, whether or not I'll be taking a bath in tranny fluid. Lol.

RonJon '06 · Jan 19, 2015

No transmission fluid will be coming out so no need to worry about that lol. There are 6 or 8 bolts, I can't remember which, some going up vertically and some horizontally. I read somewhere that there is a sequence you are supposed follow when reinstalling the cover to keep it from rattling but I didn't follow it and mine has been fine. There will be four bolts attaching the flex plate to the torque converter and if you get a socket on the main crank bolt you can turn the engine by hand to get at all four. I used a Sharpie to mark them as I went around so I would know which ones were tightened.

jwheeler · Jan 19, 2015

Everything Ronjon said is correct. If you find fluid in there, there is a problem. Why are you trying to tighten those bolts?

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golfer9619 · Jan 23, 2015

Thank you. And I have had a rattling sound going on lately. It'll happen while I'm accelerating, go away, then come back on and off. Also having an occasional problem starting the truck. I figure this is worth a shot and hoping it isn't the lifters or something worse. I haven't really been under the truck yet, I'm going to give the exhaust a look over too to see if the manifolds look ok as well.

golfer9619 · Jan 23, 2015

Actually something weird happened yeaterday, I was stopped at a stop sign and took off and heard a sorta thunk and haven't heard the sound since.

RonJon '06 · Jan 23, 2015

Well that doesn't sound good. Does it rattle when its sitting still and just idling. A clunk could have something to do with the brakes, maybe a loose brake caliper. Best thing to do is get under the truck and make sure everything is good a tight.

xb1230 · Jan 23, 2015

I had a rattle when I got the truck that would only be heard when revving the engine or accelerating.

It ended up being a plate that sits between the tranny and the engine block. On the 4.7L the T/C is not completely covered by the engine block and a part of the plate was not properly attached to the tranny casing and would vibrate depending on engine vibration harmonic (RPM). I put a bolt back in the whole tightened it real good and have never heard the rattle ever since.

golfer9619 · Jan 23, 2015

Yeah. It wasn't really a clunk... I don't know how ro describe it. But as soon as the weather clears up, I'll get under there and look. And I have a hemi not the 4.7.

jwheeler · Jan 24, 2015

Haha, maybe whatever was rattling finally fell off. I would take a look around when you get a chance.

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golfer9619 · Jan 25, 2015

Well, I got under the truck intending to remove the flexplate cover... but I still couldn't quite figure out where it was. But actually, while I was looking, I think I found my problem. The heat shield on the headers is loose, could that cause my rattling? If you look at the picture, you can see where the bolt isn't through the heat shield. It's still in the header it's self, but not through the heat shield.

golfer9619 · Jan 25, 2015

I started the truck and looked at it and it was shaking a little bit just ideling, so I'm sure with higher rpms, it could be the cause of my rattling.

jwheeler · Jan 25, 2015

There you go. That is probably it. You got a broken bolt there.

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golfer9619 · Jan 25, 2015

The bolt actually didn't look broke.. it looked like someone had worked on the headers before and forgot to bolt that back on... like the bolt was still under the heat shield, I could see the head of the bolt.

golfer9619 · Jan 25, 2015

Here's where I circled it incase someone couldn't see it.

jwheeler · Jan 25, 2015

Haha it's broke. I've replaced a hundred of em. The manifold warps an pops the head of the bolt off. The bolt is there but the head of it is gone. Look at the other side. There is supposed to be a stud and nut that hold the heat shield on.

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jwheeler · Jan 25, 2015

There are 3 nuts left that hold that shield on. You can take them off to get a better look and be surr

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golfer9619 · Jan 25, 2015

Oh lol. Well, that sucks. So is that something I could just tac weld up, or do I need to go ahead replace the bolt?

jwheeler · Jan 25, 2015

You've got to replace the gasket and get the broken bolt out. Maybe replace the manifold if it is warped too bad.

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golfer9619 · Jan 25, 2015

Damn. Price estimate?

jwheeler · Jan 25, 2015

It's not too bad but it's about two hours labor plus all new bolts, gasket and maybe a manifold. You would have to call around to shops near you and see what they will charge

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tightening flex plate bolts

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