I have a 1998 Buick LeSabre with the 3800 Series II engine. While I had the trans out, I put in a new rear main seal. The torque on this is new to me. I checked and the torque on the drive plate bolts are 11 ft-lbs plus 50 degrees. I torqued the bolts to 11 but I couldn't really do 50 degrees; I am not strong enough. I wasn't doing this with a degree tool but by eye and I could turn down to around 45 but my strength didn't really allow me to go much more. How critical is this 50 degree thing? Why not just have a torque amount on these bolts that I can set my wrench to that will let me know I am OK?

I see these are TTY one time use blots. However, I cannot find new replacements.

Dealership should have them.....usually, TTY bolts are never reused....

In life we do a lot of things we are not suppose to do. Considering you can not find the bolts easily; none of the dealerships in my area had the bolts, I am guessing that most people that have replaced the rear seal in the 3800 Series II engine have reused the bloody flexplate bolts. This is BS anyway, GM should have used bolts that can take the torque without deforming that could be reused. At one point people are not going to be able to throw away cars every five years like the auto industry expects us to.

I found the bolts and decided to replace them; lots of work if the old ones were to loosen. I checked the torque on them and was not satisfied. I may could have gotten by if I had used loctite on them when reinstalling but I didn't and I don't think torquing them a third time is a good idea even with loctite.