I am trying to replace the rear main seal on my ls1. When I was going to tighten up the rear cover I hand tightened the rear bolts and then went on to tighten the two long oil pan bolts. I read the torque recommendation is 106 pounds. Well, I was going to set the torque wrench to 26 ft lbs and then go to 56 and finally 106. It didn't even make it to 26 when it just snapped. I was able to remove the rear cover and remove the bolts snapped inside the cover, but why did this happen? Is it because I applied medium strength thread locker or put too much rtv on where the cover meets the oil pan?

 

Inch lbs. NOT ft. lbs

 

106 in. lbs would be about 9 ft. lbs

 

Wow do I feel stupid. I was thinking the whole time it seems ridiculously tight

 

Well now you have the painful task of removing those broken bolts from the block. Lessons learned!

Keep this for reference!

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?category=1

 

Don't, it happens man

 

the bolts were very easy to remove since they snapped in half. I just removed the rear cover and with pliers untightened them from the rear cover. I was very lucky I had enough bolt to hold onto. Now I'm wondering if I can reuse the new rear main seal and gasket i installed and then uninstalled 5 minutes later when the new bolts arrive.

 

Do you think I'll have to buy another new rear main seal and gasket? I literally had the cover with the new gasket and seal on for less than 10 minutes when the bolts snapped and I removed the cover. Or is it one of those things that you should replace it every time it's removed.

 

I don't think that will be an issue and I know removing the oil pan bolts would be much easier than an exhaust manifold bolt. Been there and done that

 

Feel good - others have lost millions more on similar unit conversion issues: https://www.wired.com/2010/11/1110ma...server-report/