John,

Is Rick talking about the bolts on the torque converter flange or manual
shift flywheel bolts into the crank?

Doug

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Anderson" <wvukidsdoc@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: flywheel bolts

Rick they are grade 12.9 I believe (though could be higher even), and flat
(not serrated) flanged, should be available at a good specialty fastener
place. McMaster-Carr would be worth a first look, as would your local
Fastenall possibly, though they likely wouldn't stock them, they can often
order, and will do small lots in their stock order. Or if you need one or
two, I have a few lying in my spare parts bits. However, they don't need
replaced, ever as far as I'm concerned, a little red locktite and they can
be used forever, they are almost impossible to destroy as they are
harder/higher grade than the flywheel so will destroy it's threads before
they succumb. Best way to remove BTW is an appropriate sized deep 3/8 drive
socket through the access hole, wedges solidly against the L side of the
hole for removal, R side for tightening, with a 3/8 breaker bar (if
previusly lock-tited) or adapter and 1/2 ratchet. Torque to spec on
replacement. Be
 VERY careful that on assembly your pump and turbine shafts looks EXACTLY
like the picture in every Bentley, before putting on the converter, and that
the converter spins freely behind the drive plate on putting it all back
together as the case bolts to the tranny. There should be no effort bringing
them together, then you simply spin the converter to alighn with the first
drive plate hole (which should already be positioned from removal if you
didn't turn the engine), put in a bolt, rotate the engine for all 3, etc.

John

--- On Wed, 11/4/09, Rick Koller <rkoller@HELIX.NIH.GOV> wrote:

Hi All,
I was just informed that the flywheel bolts for vanagons are NLA,
anyone have a substitute they could suggest? I plan to do a front
seal and clutch replacement on my syncro and Bentley recommends
replacing said bolts. TIA.
Rick Koller