Bell housing bolts loose. Chances I'm screwed?

[Earendil]

The really short story:
Felt what sounded like clutch chatter, but louder. Raised rear end to make sure diff and driveshaft weren't loose. Found out I could not turn the driveshaft even when I used two hands (e-brake off, in neutral). This can of course usually be turned with a single hand. I swore. Loud.

When I inched on my back over to the bell housing I found that ever single damn bolt I could get my hands on was finger loose.

So I figure I must have done damage. What are the chances that the bearings are now hosed?

The only shining light I have is that the bell housing was not visibly separated from the engine(when sitting still at least). The transmissions and engine mounts and new and solid. The car shifts fine. I'm hoping this means that the transmission didn't move too far out of place. But I do not like that I could not turn the driveshaft by hand.

I tightened the bolts up snug and I could suddenly turn the driveshaft by hand.

The E30 picnic is in under two weeks which means I need to be prepared to put 300+ miles on the car. Thoughts?

[Jaxx_]

do you think a lot of weight was put on the input shaft?

[Earendil]

do you think a lot of weight was put on the input shaft?

I *think* the top bolt is still tight. This would explain while at rest it doesn't feel like the bellhousing was separated at all. But, what happens when I shift hard?
Im betting the bellhousing just twists, but even that is bad. I could loosen them all and strap a gopro under there...

[e30leigh]

torque them all back up as they should be. you might be lucky. by the fact that you could turn the drive shaft once the bolts were tight again id say that the gearbox was not sitting right putting stresses on the driveline. what you herd was probably a mix of the box moving. the driveshaft loading up, its possible some things touched, like the coupling on the shifter arms ect. and the clutch alighnment would of been all kinds of messed up.

id recomend tighten them all properly to the right torque settings. and give it a go. fingers crossed the clutch and everything else is ok.

[jw 325ic]

Well if anything buy a new cluth and pressure plate, bearing etc and have the flywheel resurfaced. It isnt a hard job to be honest, its just time consuming but well worth it.

[Earendil]

Well if anything buy a new cluth and pressure plate, bearing etc and have the flywheel resurfaced. It isnt a hard job to be honest, its just time consuming but well worth it.

Sadly, I did all that 9 months ago. I couldn't have put more than 5000 miles (and two track days) on the clutch since then. Im not eager to do it again unless I have to.

I tightened them all back down and drive it around. No issues so far, no strange sounds or vibrations. I guess I just cross my fingers now. What does a failing bearing sound/feel like?

[jw 325ic]

sorry to hear that man. did you not torque the housing bolts down or smack em down with an impact? really weird that they came loose but if all is well now that theyre tight and everything shift fine/clutch engages fine, i wouldn't worry about it unless you notice symptoms.

[Earendil]

sorry to hear that man. did you not torque the housing bolts down or smack em down with an impact? really weird that they came loose but if all is well now that theyre tight and everything shift fine/clutch engages fine, i wouldn't worry about it unless you notice symptoms.

They were torqued, but they were not brand new. Also, the easiest ones to torque were the loosest ones. I guess I'll drive it until I have symptoms, though I don't know what those are ;-)
Thanks for the feedback!

[lolcantturn]

I doubt you stressed any components harshly except perhaps the pilot bearing. Keep driving, shifts fine? No vibrations? You're fine.