Missing bolts on Bell Housing

[funguseater]

Hi,

I recently took my T4 to get a clutch put in, and when it came home it was missing 2 bolts from the Bell Housing and the bolt next to the starter was not even threaded in. I tightened the one by the starter (finger tight +about 1 turn) but I didn't have a torque wrench.

I had driven for 2 weeks before I checked his job out and now I am wondering if I need to have the tranny reseated or if I can just throw a couple of bolts into the bell housing to tighten everything back up. I am not much of a mechanic (engine work is OK but I have never touched a tranny before) I am planning on doing a complete tear down of the motor and a valve job so on, but not for another month and I am wondering if its ok to drive without touching the clutch or tranny yet. Also the housing must not be well sealed as I could move it by pushing before tightening the bolts up, was there oil in there? Damn I better check the trans oil.

Also anyone know offhand what size these bolts are, there is a sad lack of T4's at the wrecker here.

Thanks for the help guys.
Dave G

[Petros]

There is no oil shared between the engine and transmission, so you should be okay there. If they are the bell housing bolts there should be 4 main bolts, 17 mm socket size if I recall, two just under the head at the back of the block (easiest to reach and check from under the hood, next to the firewall), and two down on each corner under the starter on one size, and below the fuel pump side on the other. Just get them good and tight with socket wrech, they thread into the cast iron block so you will not strip them. Something like 30 ft-lbs. If the bell housing is up tight against the back of the block you are probably fine, there are several large locating dowels that also hold the trans in alignment.

There are two 14mm socket size bolts on the starter, and there are also some 14mm (or 12mm?) socket size bolts on the side plates, 4 on each side. These go from the sides of the diff housing to the side of the lower block, these are an easy thing for lazy mechanics to leave off too. If these are missing you can still drive it as long as you do not do any heavy driving, they help stiffen the connection between the engine and transaxle. You might skim through the on-line FSF and look for pictures of the connection between the engine and trans.

We can help walk you thorough an engine rebuild, if you like hands-on learning, you will have a fun time doing a rebuild.

Good luck.

[funguseater]

Thanks! 2 of the 17mm were not tightened at all by the starter or the fuel pump... and 2 of the others were missing, oh well I havnt been off roading lately so it should be OK.

I have been checking out the Guides for the rebuild info you did, I know I saw it once but I can't find it now, I found your swap thread but could you send me the 3-ac performance rebuild link. I have been looking forward to rebuilding a T4 for years and now I have some time so it will be fun. I am going make a rebuild thread as I go with lots of pictures so you can all point and laugh (then hopefully tell me where I went wrong )

Dave G

[Petros]

I never did a performance rebuild guide, I was planning on doing it some time when I do not know what else to do with all this spare time I have (not!). But all the info is somewhere in the forum, you just have do dig it out.

Basiclly I went 1mm overbore with flat top pistons, cleaned up the ports, performance cam regrind from Delta Cams of Tacoma WA, lightened flywheel, balanced all moving parts, 10 deg BTDC advanced timing. Run premium fuel.

[funguseater]

Ha, I guess it will be time to charge up the camera then. Thanks for the info !

Dave G