TH350 Torque Converter Cover Help

[thefatguy]

This is probably the dumbest question asked all year, but it's driving me nuts.

I've got a replacement torque converter COVER for my 78 TH350. However, it did not come with mounting hardware, meaning no bolts. Since the cover was long-gone when I bought the truck, I don't have the ones that came off.

So, I start buying small packs of bolts at Home Depot, and I can't get anything to fit. It's pretty clearly a 1/4" hole, but 1/4-20s don't work, and neither do 1/4-28s. M6 metrics don't work. I'm bamboozled.

Any help out there? Before I JB Weld the stupid thing in.

[old Rusty C10]

is it the cover or the converter youre talking about?? the thread title says one thing the thread says another? if the converter, do you mean the flexplate to converter bolts?

[thefatguy]

Duh. I changed it. I mean the steel cover that shields it - held on with four bolts - covers up some of the starter, too.

[Albatrossian]

I always thought they were 5/16.. I could be wrong though..

[slug]

i think the bolts are some wierd wood type screws with a piont. go get you some self tapping sheet metal screws that are a lil bit bigger than the diamater of the holes on the tranny. just make sure the sheet metal screw is long enough to bite into the aluminum on the tranny. or you could drill and tap the holes and use some regular machine type bolts/screws

[Rons86]

The bolts for the cover are the same size as the bolts in the oil pan. Not sure of the size.

[Cyclone]

...they are 6mm metric on my 79, got em @ Home Depot. They have a 10mm head.

[87 STEPPER]

Originally Posted by slug

i think the bolts are some wierd wood type screws with a piont. go get you some self tapping sheet metal screws that are a lil bit bigger than the diamater of the holes on the tranny. just make sure the sheet metal screw is long enough to bite into the aluminum on the tranny. or you could drill and tap the holes and use some regular machine type bolts/screws

The ones on my '87 had that wierd wood screw thread pitch and i drilled and taped the tranny housing and used some ARP 12 point bolts but i cant remember the thread pitch i think it was like 5/16-20.

Heres a pic

[boatpuller]

spank me.if you must.i know it's not a good idea and someday ,i'm gonna put one on.iv'e heard all the rock and stick stories,mud,dust,possums and racoons.iv'e driven thousands of miles without one and still here to tell about it. but somebody smarter than me at g.m put it on there for a reason.so it's a useful thread for me,because i'll be hunting down the bolts.but hey,iv'e also owned a b.b gun for years and never lost an eye.

[mercman1951]

I have yet to own one of these trucks (or any V8 Chevy for that matter) that had the cover in place when I got it. If anyone has one for sale....

[87 STEPPER]

Every thing i have has one and there is a heavy duty cast aluminum one two but mine is the flimsy tin type which is good cuz i can get it off with some gental persuadation if i need to get in there for any mx.