When I was pulling out Fifinella's old torque converted, I discovered only six of the eight bolts mating it to the flywheel were present.


I pulled the metal adapter plate that goes between the torque converter and the flywheel off the old converter, and bolted it to the new one without the benefit of a visual inspection.


I was in a hurry. I crashed my T-Bird, and I really, really need the Jag back on the road ASAP.


I pretty much had the transmission completely reinstalled and the driveshaft in when I discovered the reason why there were only six bolts holding the flywheel to the torque converter. One of the studs on the adapter plate was so galled there is no possible way to thread a nut onto it. The nut 180 degrees opposite had been left off to keep things balanced.


I've seen transmissions in junkyards with a lot fewer than six bolts holding the torque converter in place. Just how bad of an idea is it to reinstall this one without all eight bolts on the adapter plate? It was apparently running this way when I bought it. Of course, it quit moving in any gear after only three weeks.


To fix it, I'd have to order a new plate, and remove the transmission, undoing several days of hard work. And I need this car fixed yesterday. Will it work, even as a short term fix until I have more time to do it "right"?

 

Well maybe?

If Jaguar put 8 bolts on it I can guarantee you they could not get by with 6 bolts.

But you have been driving around like that for some time without it coming apart.

I think with the type of repairs you have found on the car it will be a short length of ownership. What else was repaired that way?
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