Question about Loctite?

art leong · 05-13-2008, 11:10 AM

I had a torque converter loosen up. I believe it was torqued properly, and I used blue loctite.
Should I use the red, or is there a better product?

Bill Belden · 05-13-2008, 11:26 AM

I use the red, never had a problem with nuts/bolts loosening with it

Philip Saran · 05-13-2008, 11:27 AM

I want to know also. I've used red loctite on convertor bolts and
then had to use heat to break the seal when I needed to remove
the convertor.

Steve Stockton · 05-13-2008, 11:39 AM

Red holds a lot better than blue, but you will have to heat it up to get them off. I would think that a lock nut and the blue stuff would be enough, but if not the red will for sure hold them on there.

SSDiv6 · 05-13-2008, 12:58 PM

I use ARP bolts with Loctite Blue and never had a problem...however...in your application with a high RPM 4-Cylinder, you have more harmonics and vibration than a V-8 engine. Larry Morgan, when he ran his 4-Cylinder Fiero with the 151-CID Super Duty Pontiac engine, had the same problem with flywheel bolts loosening.

mtkawboy · 05-13-2008, 01:53 PM

In the 70's I ran an H/G Anglia with a 300 Ford 6 in it. I tried red locktite, safety wire. extra dowels etc. Every 6 runs you had to replace the broken bolts. I never could get them to stay in. Theyd either back out or break the heads off. Wisk I could help, I know thats not what you want to hear. Its just a harmonics problem I was told.

Tony Curcio · 05-13-2008, 07:06 PM

You might try using a larger diameter bolt, especially if your existing bolts are 3/8" dia. or less. Drill the flex plate and/or converter tabs for 5/16", make sure the clearance around the bolt is fairly snug. Worked for me once.

Jesse Knapp · 05-14-2008, 09:28 AM

I used the red or the blue depending on what size bolt and the amount of torque required. Never had to heat the bolts for removal. Very small amounts of red go a long way. I believe that coating a part of a couple threads is all that's required. This is how I fastened my flexplate. Never became loose, never had to heat to remove. And I went 8400 rpm or more, small block. Be conservative with this stuff. Jesse

njk53 · 05-14-2008, 12:48 PM

Are you using a bolt that fastens to a threaded boss on the torque converter or are you using a nut and a bolt that goes through the converter and flywheel?

I am a firm believer that if a fastener is engineered correctly for the application you shouldn't need any Locktite at all. There is a lot more to engineering fastener applications than a lot of guys think and pretty much take for granted. A bolt should have the proper stretch for the application among other things like the type of material, torque, etc. Talk to the experts at ARP they will ask you a lot of questions and get you the proper fastener for your particular application.

Bob Pagano · 05-14-2008, 03:17 PM

Here is a good question on Locktite, why is it $25-30 a bottle ? Is it made with a gold additive ?

05-13-2008, 11:10 AM	#1
art leong VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Richmond Hill, Georgia Posts: 2,003 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Question about Loctite? I had a torque converter loosen up. I believe it was torqued properly, and I used blue loctite. Should I use the red, or is there a better product? __________________ Art Leong 2095 SS

05-13-2008, 11:26 AM	#2
Bill Belden Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: York, PA Posts: 241 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Question about Loctite? I use the red, never had a problem with nuts/bolts loosening with it __________________ Bill Belden Retired Stock Eliminator [emailSTK1100@comcast.net[/email]

05-13-2008, 11:27 AM	#3
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 728 Likes: 163 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Question about Loctite? I want to know also. I've used red loctite on convertor bolts and then had to use heat to break the seal when I needed to remove the convertor. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

05-13-2008, 11:39 AM	#4
Steve Stockton Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: menomonie, wi Posts: 6 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Question about Loctite? Red holds a lot better than blue, but you will have to heat it up to get them off. I would think that a lock nut and the blue stuff would be enough, but if not the red will for sure hold them on there.

05-13-2008, 12:58 PM	#5
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,036 Likes: 711 Liked 1,538 Times in 575 Posts	Re: Question about Loctite? I use ARP bolts with Loctite Blue and never had a problem...however...in your application with a high RPM 4-Cylinder, you have more harmonics and vibration than a V-8 engine. Larry Morgan, when he ran his 4-Cylinder Fiero with the 151-CID Super Duty Pontiac engine, had the same problem with flywheel bolts loosening. Last edited by SSDiv6; 05-15-2008 at 06:32 PM.

05-13-2008, 01:53 PM	#6
mtkawboy Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Billings Mt Posts: 281 Likes: 172 Liked 54 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Question about Loctite? In the 70's I ran an H/G Anglia with a 300 Ford 6 in it. I tried red locktite, safety wire. extra dowels etc. Every 6 runs you had to replace the broken bolts. I never could get them to stay in. Theyd either back out or break the heads off. Wisk I could help, I know thats not what you want to hear. Its just a harmonics problem I was told.

05-13-2008, 07:06 PM	#7
Tony Curcio Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 271 Likes: 1 Liked 4 Times in 1 Post	Re: Question about Loctite? You might try using a larger diameter bolt, especially if your existing bolts are 3/8" dia. or less. Drill the flex plate and/or converter tabs for 5/16", make sure the clearance around the bolt is fairly snug. Worked for me once. __________________ Tony Curcio 1860 STK

05-14-2008, 09:28 AM	#8
Jesse Knapp Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 109 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Question about Loctite? I used the red or the blue depending on what size bolt and the amount of torque required. Never had to heat the bolts for removal. Very small amounts of red go a long way. I believe that coating a part of a couple threads is all that's required. This is how I fastened my flexplate. Never became loose, never had to heat to remove. And I went 8400 rpm or more, small block. Be conservative with this stuff. Jesse __________________ Jesse Knapp 4899 STK, SS

05-14-2008, 12:48 PM	#9
njk53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: East China, MI Posts: 504 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Question about Loctite? Are you using a bolt that fastens to a threaded boss on the torque converter or are you using a nut and a bolt that goes through the converter and flywheel? I am a firm believer that if a fastener is engineered correctly for the application you shouldn't need any Locktite at all. There is a lot more to engineering fastener applications than a lot of guys think and pretty much take for granted. A bolt should have the proper stretch for the application among other things like the type of material, torque, etc. Talk to the experts at ARP they will ask you a lot of questions and get you the proper fastener for your particular application. __________________ Nelson Kowal Stock 345

05-14-2008, 03:17 PM	#10
Bob Pagano VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Holland, PA Mooresville,NC Posts: 1,163 Likes: 237 Liked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Question about Loctite? Here is a good question on Locktite, why is it $25-30 a bottle ? Is it made with a gold additive ? __________________ Bob Pagano A/SA