Seperation Of Tranny And Engine

grande_guerre · Oct 16, 2004

how do i go about this? i pulled six bellhousing to engine bolts(are there more?), i pulled the starter, and the inspection plate. I can see the flexplate and i think the torque converter is right behind it... i need to pull the flexplate bolts, but i only see one and it looks like i got lucky in seeing it. Do i need to turn it in order to get to the others? or is this the only one? thanks for any help!

4xfan78 · Oct 16, 2004

Ther should be atleast 6 bolts holding the torque converter in you need to rotate the engine to get them out. Usually works great with 2 people.

BLADE262US · Oct 16, 2004

Theres 4 bolts that hold the torque convertor to the flexplate . You need to rotate the motor to get at each one I usually rotate the motor till the nut is at the bottom. Once you have all 4 out you can get a small pry bar in the starter hole and push the torque convertor back away from the flex plate . 6 bolts hold motor to bell housing and 4 nuts hold torque convertor to flexplate .

grande_guerre · Oct 16, 2004

thanks you guys! my book doesn't tell me this kinda info... wish it did...

BigNasty · Oct 16, 2004

There may be an extra bolt, just to hold the flexplate to the tranny.
Also, you can pull the T converter out with the engine and unbolt it then if you want.
Just be sure to put it gently, back on the input shaft after you unbolt it from the flywheel.
This prevents too much leakage and dirt entrance in both the tranny and the converter.

An easy way to spin the flywheel while the engine is in us by turning the crank bolt (front).

Also, no matter which way you pull the engine out, with or without the converter, be sure it is fully seated on the output shaft before dropping the engine back into place.
If it isn't seated fully and kept that way during the engine install, then the converter will bind on its shaft and therefore the crankshaft and you will never get the enginge together with the tranny or the engine to turn over at all.
It will effectively lock the engine up.
Trust me.. my 351w gave me heck and had to be pulled twice just to keep the t converter seated enough to make it all fit right. It was an extreme 3 days of cursing and screaming just to get it back in and running.

(inexperienced crew on the cherry picker as well as someone thinking it was cool to run a saw on tree limbs right beside the truck during some of the install.
You WANT everyone up top to hear EVERYTHING you say about which way to go so the job goes smoothly and safely.. afterall, several hundred pounds of engine can kill you when someone isnt paying attention or misunderstands you due to outside noise.)

bluesman17 · Oct 16, 2004

To seat it, it should click in twice if i remember right maybe three

grande_guerre · Oct 19, 2004

thanks guys. i got the 302 out and the 351w in yesterday with help of a friend. hopefully the converter is in there... but thanks!

BigNasty · Oct 19, 2004

You can do an easy check to make sure the convertor is in properly.
When the tranny and the engine are bolted together and the bolts tightened, try to turn the engine by hand with a socket and breaker bar.
If it turns over easy as it should (without plugs) then all is good.
If you can stack 15 elephants, 5 trains, 6 busses, 7 18 wheelers and yourself on the breaker bar and it doesn't turn... then the convertor slipped off the shaft during the engine install.
Also, don't put any nuts on the convertor to the flywheel till after the block and tranny are bolted together , the nuts in place, even one nut, just started, can make the convertor unseat enough to give problems while wiggling the engine in.