[Gach]

God it’s like you can’t catch a break, most important thing is rear main seal still looking good. Really happy for you

[dataway]

I don't know ... I'd venture a guess that the lock washer is either part of the damage, or a coincidence. I'd keep my eye open for another piece of missing hardware ... or tool.

I've dropped a lot of things into spinning machinery .. that's a lot of damage for something of that small of a mass.

My latest was only a couple of weeks ago, my magnetic Milwaukee work light (the funny looking triangle shaped one) fell off the underside of my hood and into the fan at high idle ... knocked it all the way across the shop. Didn't even bend a fan blade and the light appears to have no damage. I'm guess the fan clutch is what prevented an explosion of plastic and a bent blade.

[HWYSTR455]

Do fan bolts even get lock washers?

That sux. Yeah, can't get a break! BUT. Once you hash thru all this crap, it will be pure enjoyment!



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[Verdoro 68]

You’d think it was something bigger, but the remaining fragment of washer fits perfectly in the damaged areas of the radiator and there are some dings on the pulley to match the hood. As near as I can tell, it broke into three pieces with one staying behind under the bolt and two hitting the radiator.

I looked up the factory diagram last night and it’s supposed to have studs from the water pump and slotted nuts but not lock washers. The repro kits are sold with regular nuts and lock washers. What’s the safest setup to run?

I’ve been running grade 8 bolts and washers there for years without a problem. Here’s the funny part - I lost a bolt and washer when I was putting it back together. The only bolt I misplaced in all the times I’ve taken this apart! I picked up some replacements at the hardware store, but they were out of grade 8 washers so I grabbed grade 5 instead - guess what failed?

Fortunately Summit had Cold Case radiators in stock so I should have a replacement by Monday or Tuesday. I just don’t want to wreck the new one with bad hardware again.

[Sirrotica]

Grade 5 is what the factory used, in almost all general fasteners. I would surmize that the lock washer was imported garbage, not that it wasn't grade 8. GM used lock washers almost exclusively on fan bolts, but I have seen star washers used under the fan fasteners by some other manufacturers. I won't trust any hardware that comes from china. Id rather pick thru my used hardware, than to trust chinesium hardware.

You can fix that radiator with JB weld, as long as you get it dry, and clean, before applying it. Let it set up for 24 hours before filling the radiator with coolant. Your car, but I've never had an aluminum radiator repair fail using JB weld. I've used it on my own cars for fan damaged core tubes, and the car went to the scrap yard with the radiator still sealed many years later.

Some videos using JB weld on radiators:
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...or+wit+JB+weld

[Verdoro 68]

I considered JB Weld, but are a couple spots where the tubes are compromised in a substantial way. If it was one spot, I'd probably go with epoxy, but since it's a few spots (and maybe a few more left to be discovered) I went ahead and ordered a new one.

Looking over the fan blades, it's clear they batted the washer pieces around as there's some small nicks on the end of a few blades. Not seeing any significant damage or indication of cracks though.

It's crazy how much damage these little pieces did at a relatively low RPM.

[HWYSTR455]

Personally, I've been running nothing but ARP stuff on last 2 builds, but prior, when running an OE fan with a clutch, for some reason I recall using bolts with heads that had serrated flanges, but it's been a while, could be mistaken there. But even so, I never recall using split washers, or any washer, just a bolt.

Yeah, you can try JB Weld, but I wouldn't trust it. Last thing you need is that stuff to blow off while your miles away from anything. If anything, see if maybe someone can tig it for you.

I run champion radiators, so if anything happens, it's a cheap replacement.


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[Verdoro 68]

Serrated flanges are probably a good call. I've been running this setup with the lock washers for years without issue, but I'd like to avoid this potential problem in the future.

Looks like I had another one that was close to giving out in the similar spots. These are gold, so now I'm wondering if I did find grade 8 washers at the store after all. It's getting bad when I can't remember yesterday. Either way, doesn't really matter now.

[Gach]

I don’t blame you on ordering new radiator. God we can’t even get decent washes. Who would ever thought.

[mgarblik]

I have had some split washers, (lock washers ), break like that in several different situations over the last 3-4 years mostly. Has to do with poor quality off shore suppliers in my experience. One I remember well is an engine stand I was assembling from new. Had several washers split just like that. I ended up throwing all the hardware away and replacing with Domestic nuts,bolts washers. The other one recently was a replacement upper ball joint, Moog branded. The lock washers fractured while tightening. The only thing common among the failed washers was the ID and OD of the washer had square shoulders. The domestic lock washers had more rounded, softer shoulders on them. They were also slightly thicker. It's just amazing how virtually everything from China is complete crap, right down to the fasteners that hold their garbage together. Sorry for your damage. Beautiful car to have some little rat bites. You are more even tempered than me it seems. I would be extremely pissed by this. Congratulations on getting it back together and back on the road.

[Shiny]

That must have been frustrating after winning such a battle over your leak.

A brittle washer would be totally unexpected for me, even if Grade 8. Maybe hydrogen embrittlement? Whatever it was, I'm sorry it happened to you... you didn't deserve to be hurt by something so small after the effort you put into something complicated.

I truly hope it's all behind you soon.

[Verdoro 68]

New radiator is in, new ARP fan studs and nuts installed w/loctite. No lock washers this time, although there's still some on the fan clutch. To my surprise, the new Cold Case radiator core is 1/2 thicker than my old one. I think I had one of the early ones, so maybe they changed the size. My old one wasn't stamped with Cold Case either. Overheating wasn't an issue before, but it really won't be an issue now.

Took it for a successful spin around town for a few miles and various RPMs. Oil pressure is where it's always been (and maybe too good looking at that other thread). I think I have a little tweaking to do with the rocker adjustment, but otherwise it runs really well.

Most importantly - the rear of the oil pan is still dry! No indication of leaks and hopefully it stays that way. Appreciate all the help and support. With any luck, I'm finally done with this thread

[1968GTO421]

Congrats, looking really good.
Did your ARP fan studs and nuts come in a kit or did you use studs and nuts based on previous fasteners sizes, etc? (Fellow "68's need to know )
Appreciate it!

[Verdoro 68]

Thanks!

The ARP kit is 100-3201.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/arp-100-3201

[Gach]

God that looks so good man so happy for you. It reminds me so much of my 68 GTO I bought brand new off show room. Keeping fingers crossed on oil leak. Unimaginable what went through.

[Verdoro 68]

Thanks! It's been in and out three times so everything is pretty fresh under the hood LOL. It also got a wash down after the coolant explosion. The wash down ruined my last emissions decal and I was doing a batch the other day so I tweaked the wording on the stock decal for my own car. Pretty subtle, but I like things that way.

I really hope that if the BOP seal is holding oil now and survived startup, it will continue to do so and I won't have a surprise attack in a few hundred miles like I had with the rope seals. I've got a habit of looking under the car now every time I go out into the garage. Hopefully that will pass in time.

[Gach]

You got me looking under my car now too. Just kidding LOL I like the decal

[Shiny]

I like happy endings.

Congrats on fixing the leak and you earned the best attitude award for recovering from the fractured washer episode.

The label is excellent! Definitely subtle but so perfect!

Mike

[HWYSTR455]

Ditto on the happy endings! Congrats, and fingers crossed!

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[mgarblik]

I will never be happier to see a thread end! (only because of success!) Enjoy that beautiful car.