'62 Clutch Bolts

[Christopher R.]

Arghh! I can't find the bolts for the clutch pressure plate to the flywheel. Took them off a few months ago, and was careful to put them in a safe place where I'd be sure to find them.

Can I use grade 8 bolts from Lowes? What size are they? Were washers used?

[Joe L.]

Re: '62 Clutch Bolts

Arghh! I can't find the bolts for the clutch pressure plate to the flywheel. Took them off a few months ago, and was careful to put them in a safe place where I'd be sure to find them.

Can I use grade 8 bolts from Lowes? What size are they? Were washers used?

Chris-----


The bolts are 3/8-16 X 1". You could use hardware store grade 8 bolts of this size but I would not recommend it. I would use the original bolts, GM #838653, still available from your GM dealer or, better yet, ARP clutch cover bolts. If you have a performance shop in your area, they'll likely have these in stock. They are of the part number John mentioned.

As I recall, these bolts have a short, un-threaded shank which is important and you won't find that in a hardware store 1" bolt.

The original bolts were used in conjunction with a split lockwasher. I would use Locktite 242 instead.

NOTE: I have completely revised my original response. I mistakenly thought that Chris was talking about the flywheel-to-crankshaft bolts. I have revised it to cover the pressure-plate-to-flywheel bolts.

[John H.]

Re: '62 Clutch Bolts

As Joe noted, the unthreaded shank on the pressure plate bolts is an important feature - that shank is very closely toleranced to the holes in the clutch cover, and the plain shank makes the bolt much stronger in shear than an ordinary full-threaded bolt. The bolt on the right side of the photo below is an ARP #130-2201 bolt; they come with precision-ground hardened flat washers with the hole radiused on one side (the radiused side goes against the bottom of the bolt head, to clear the radiused fillet between the shank and the bolt head).

[Scott S.]

Re: '62 Clutch Bolts

...I would use the original bolts, GM #838653, still available from your GM dealer or, better yet, ARP clutch cover bolts. If you have a performance shop in your area, they'll likely have these in stock. They are of the part number John mentioned.

As Joe noted, the unthreaded shank on the pressure plate bolts is an important feature - that shank is very closely toleranced to the holes in the clutch cover, and the plain shank makes the bolt much stronger in shear than an ordinary full-threaded bolt. The bolt on the right side of the photo below is an ARP #130-2201 bolt; they come with precision-ground hardened flat washers with the hole radiused on one side (the radiused side goes against the bottom of the bolt head, to clear the radiused fillet between the shank and the bolt head).

Joe or John,

Is this same ARP #130-2201 clutch-cover bolt also recommended for a '67 L79 clutch?

[Joe L.]

Re: '62 Clutch Bolts

Joe or John,

Is this same ARP #130-2201 clutch-cover bolt also recommended for a '67 L79 clutch?

Scott------


Yes.

[Scott S.]

Re: '62 Clutch Bolts

Thanks Joe!