I recently picked up a seemingly clean '85 and have found all kinds of loose fasteners; this thing was about to fall apart. I was just tightening things as I saw them or had to work on the area but something happened that made me take this seriously. Last week the drivers side heater hose popped off the block during a high-speed turn and the hemorrhaging coolant spun the car out big time. I went flailing right into the path of a large Dodge pick-up towing a horse trailer. Luckily for me he was able to take the ditch to go around me and I didn't get creamed. I was sitting there thinking, "WTF happened?" Then I smelled coolant and looked down to see steam and a hot gauge reading. I popped the hood and saw the hose and clamp just hanging there. That's when I got pissed off enough to check the whole car. Don't get me wrong I already went through the brakes, struts, alignment, and other things right away to know what I was driving, but that wasn't enough.

I went through the entire car yesterday with a torque wrench, both motor mount nuts were about fully backed off and could have easily fell off plus the engine bracket was a little loose. I was able to snug the tranny mount also. Front and rear suspension, steering components, control arms, cross members, doors, body panels, bumper brackets, hose clamps, etc. You name it I found loose fasteners. Now the car is quieter, stiffer, more dependable, and much safer to drive at high speeds. It only took a few hours. I recommend everyone do this, these cars are getting old and we like to drive them hard. It's too easy to take these things for granted.

Thanks,
Vernon

 

i totally agree with you. Every so often you should get out there with the torque wrench and check everything. I didnt notice until i had a DOT inspection but some of my steering bolts were missing split pins so things like that are a hazard.

Just a quic Q? is the rear suspension supposed to be torqued while in the air or under load?? im pretty sure its in the air but just thought id check

James

 

Damn, sounds like someone did that on purpose to that car. There's no way that ALL of that **** could have vibrated loose. I don't think there's a single bolt on my car that I havn't touched yet. My car doesn't have a single rattle or any bad sound. Except that damn waterpump slipping cause my 3L220 bent is worn out as hell.

 

I agree. A properly tightened bolt will NEVER come loose on its own. Physically impossible.

So what we're dealing with is a FPO problem. (F'ing Previous Owner).

 

I agree. NewRXr, your situation is unique. Blame the PO, hehe.

 

Tighten the rearend links under load, or they will bind when the suspension travels up as you lower the car to the ground.

 

I don't have any such problems with the 83 I bought new or the 2 85s.

However, that damn heater hose WILL detriorate (because oil drips on it) so replace it every 50k. When it goes you will overheat and damage internal seals.

B

 

all my stuff seams tight. I agree with peejay coldy and jeff. i dont see how many thing could be loose.

 

I always keep Loctite Blue threadlocker in my toolbox! You can't use too much of it!

 

Yes you can... When you start breaking bolts or rounding off heads while taking **** apart, you used too much...

 

Mine blows out about every four or five months. I'm overdue, actually.

I've overheated the engine probably five or six times by now. Still runs great. Maybe I'm just one lucky SOB.

 

All my bolts are tight (rusted together) :-) But one thing I found was both motor mount nuts were missing. doh!