:::RHMT::: Real Home Made Turbo

General Category => Forced Induction => Topic started by: patsmx5 on June 21, 2009, 12:02:45 AM

Title: Turbo bolts won't stay tight? **RHMT fix inside**
Post by: patsmx5 on June 21, 2009, 12:02:45 AM

I read people have this problem all the time. At least the miata people do. Mainly because they're doing it wrong.

Best to use a stud and nut, but bolts work too. I used bolts. You want the fastener to thread into the manifold 2 to 2.5 times it's diameter. The more, the better. And the bigger the diameter, the better. When I got my manifold, it was 8mm holes. I drilled and taped it for 3/8 (about 10mm, but 3/8 tap was 20 bucks cheaper than 10mm tap  :noel: ).  Rather than tapping the holes 1/2 an inch deep or so, I tapped them as far as possible. On my manifold, this gave me about 1.25" of threads. I C-clamped a 3/8" nut to the table, screwed turbo bolts in it, and then drilled the heads of them with a 1/8" bit. Got everything installed, torqued the bolts, and they haven't been touched since.

But for baller status, today I went ahead and wired the bolts together.

Go to Lowes. Buy:
1' of 1/16" braided cable........ $0.25
Pack of 1/16" ferrels...............$1.50

Put wire in bolt heads like shown. This way if any bolt tries to turn out, it pulls on the two surrounding bolts, trying to tighten them. This way as long as all the bolts are tight when the cable's installed, none can ever loosen. Pull the cable tight with pliers, then crimp a ferrel to hold the wire. I put the ferrel hanging off the side so I could get some pliers in their to crimp the ferrel.

Works great.


(https://realhomemadeturbo.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee155%2Fpatsmx5%2F100_0335.jpg&hash=347eee65336add13fc6c1b033bc58b278f569645)

(https://realhomemadeturbo.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee155%2Fpatsmx5%2F100_0343.jpg&hash=f84878389175d80efb0de65f99f7e09092825634)

(https://realhomemadeturbo.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee155%2Fpatsmx5%2F100_0336.jpg&hash=b00b83f4b4e56e034b5fc066f4fe770a91d780c9)

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Title: Re: Turbo bolts won't stay tight? **RHMT fix inside**
Post by: dvst8r on June 21, 2009, 12:23:45 AM

Nice work, I typically like .040 wire or even a bit thinner. I just find it is easier to work with, and you can buy a 1lbs roll of SS shit for cheap at most industrial supply shops for safety wiring.

Title: Re: Turbo bolts won't stay tight? **RHMT fix inside**
Post by: bouncinofftherevlimiter on June 21, 2009, 12:37:26 AM

i have never seen 1/16" cable used as safety wire but i like it.  :yes:


my on my MX bike we safety wired a bunch of shit all the time. it really saves on shit backing off and breaking.

Title: Re: Turbo bolts won't stay tight? **RHMT fix inside**
Post by: speedjunky01 on June 21, 2009, 03:43:08 PM

this is a fucking LIFESAVER

ive tired EVERYTHING on my cast iron mani, have looong as studs, trid crush washers, loctite, nillon nuts ect ect ect

short of welding this is the best idea ive seen.

thanks man

Title: Re: Turbo bolts won't stay tight? **RHMT fix inside**
Post by: t_cel_t on June 21, 2009, 04:52:49 PM

cool cept for the mazda part  :P

Title: Re: Turbo bolts won't stay tight? **RHMT fix inside**
Post by: 89shithatch on June 21, 2009, 05:16:37 PM

ever try running studs/locknuts.

Title: Re: Turbo bolts won't stay tight? **RHMT fix inside**
Post by: QikEnuF on June 22, 2009, 09:37:43 PM

Saftey wire them like a bike and hope it holds? Nice

(https://realhomemadeturbo.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.still428.com%2Favatars%2Fsamwell.gif&hash=5d9520712e8cae9d4ee37f5946ae0d7b6c6dc89c)

Title: Re: Turbo bolts won't stay tight? **RHMT fix inside**
Post by: 89shithatch on June 22, 2009, 11:00:58 PM

Quote from: danwjmu on June 21, 2009, 09:11:09 PM

Locknuts don't work out because when they get red hot and cool they lose the springiness that makes them locknuts.  This is neat, can be done with tie wire too.

your high. we run locknuts on all our semis and they come this way from the factory. i assure you the engine bay gets much hotter and the turbos weight is far higher than your little snail. quit using a hf 3/8 ratchet to tighten them in the first place and they will be fine.

Title: Re: Turbo bolts won't stay tight? **RHMT fix inside**
Post by: 89shithatch on June 22, 2009, 11:02:49 PM

and im not talking nylon locknuts. and you must have ment LOCK WASHERS saying they lose there tension. a locknut does not use tension to stay put. lockwashers do. run 4 studs out of the manifold, and install 4 regular washers than 4 lockNUTs. not the nylon ones. Since you seem to have a problem with them coming loose TORQUE them. im positive they will not come loose again if you do this. than you can take your wire and tire it around your neck and jump from a tree. kthxbye