[kringold]

I'm trying to pull a 350 SBC without pulling the trannie. I'm trying to rotate the crankshaft in order to unbolt the flexplate, and it isn't budging. All the spark plugs are pulled and the starter. There was water in at least one cylinder, but I have drained it out of the oil pan. I tried rotating the crank using the Harmonic Balancer bolt, but so far have only managed to strip some of the threads in the crankshaft. Any ideas?

[larryblack]

sounds like the water was in more than one cylinder and things rusted together.

You may not be able to break it over. You can pull the tranny too, drain the pan first to reduce the mess, or put a loose yoke into the output shaft. Then you can pull the tranny off with out worrying about the converter getting hurt.

[kringold]

Originally Posted by larryblack

or put a loose yoke into the output shaft.

Sorry but I don't understand what you mean.

[BstMech]

If you're careful, you can pull the convertor with the motor. Use a jack under the tranny while pulling to keep the motor/tranny in line as much as possible to prevent damage to the pump/convertor.

Of course this is if you can't get the motor to turn.

[larryblack]

Originally Posted by kringold

Sorry but I don't understand what you mean.

On your drive shaft, you have a part that fits into the output of the tranny. It is called a YOKE or SLIP YOKE depending on how old you are. If you have one that is not connected to a drive shaft, you put it into the trany to plug it so it does not spill the fluid everywhere when you pull the tranny. Believe me when I say you DO NOT want a tranny fluid spill under your car. It takes FOREVER to clean up. Learned that one the hard way.

You sound like a newbie to wrenching, with the smarts enough to ask questions. I do not have all the answers, most of them maybe and the other members on this board can fill in the gaps. You will get several opinions and methods on how to do things on this board and about 99% of them work.

[kringold]

Originally Posted by BstMech

If you're careful, you can pull the convertor with the motor. Use a jack under the tranny while pulling to keep the motor/tranny in line as much as possible to prevent damage to the pump/convertor.
Of course this is if you can't get the motor to turn.

So I'm understanding that the torque converter will slide straight out? Is there anything that has to be unbolted besides the trannie itself?

[kringold]

Originally Posted by larryblack

You sound like a newbie to wrenching, with the smarts enough to ask questions.

I'm not that new. Old enough not to be called a newbie! Search for my other posts. I just haven't had to deal with trannies before. Last engine I pulled that had water in it didn't have this problem. Although it didn't sit as long as this one has.

[BstMech]

Originally Posted by kringold

So I'm understanding that the torque converter will slide straight out? Is there anything that has to be unbolted besides the trannie itself?

Other than the obvious (kickdown/dust cover/etc) all there is attaching the tranny is the bellhousing bolts. As a precaution, you may want to remove the shift linkage as well to prevent damage.

Make sure the tranny mount is not saturated with oil and spongy to the point of separating while pulling the motor. This will make a mess at the least.

It's a pretty straight forward job and you shouldn't have any problems if you exercise common sense.

[redlightning]

Most of the time I pull engines I leave the trans in.If they are locked up,I have had to drop the pan and take the rod or rods loose so it will spin to get the torque converter bolts.

[kringold]

So IF i am successful, I will be able to remove the torque converter after I get the engine out? I will need it off in order to get the engine on a stand. Also, when I put the torque converter back into the trannie, is there any alignment issues? Does something have to be in a certain spot?

[kringold]

Originally Posted by redlightning

Most of the time I pull engines I leave the trans in.If they are locked up,I have had to drop the pan and take the rod or rods loose so it will spin to get the torque converter bolts.

That's what I was thinking of doing, but was hoping to have the engine out of the vehicle before I dropped the pan.

[larryblack]

Originally Posted by kringold

I'm not that new. Old enough not to be called a newbie! Search for my other posts. I just haven't had to deal with trannies before. Last engine I pulled that had water in it didn't have this problem. Although it didn't sit as long as this one has.

No offense intended, remember I said you have smarts. I checked your age after I posted. I was already getting greasy when you were born. I was 6 when I worked on my first vehicle. Been getting greasy ever since. I have found out a few tricks to minimize the mess. This keeps wifey happy.

You can disconnect the tranny from the engine, remove the linkage and IF you have the tranny supported and some spotters you can pull the engine with the converter attached. I have found it is easier and safer to just pull the engine and tranny as one unit. Then disconnect it from the engine on the ground. If you get too much of an angle between the engine and tranny when pulling the engine only and the converter is not disconnected from the flex plate, you can bend the inside of the converter an possibly bugger the input shaft to the tranny in the process.

[kringold]

Originally Posted by larryblack

No offense intended, remember I said you have smarts. I checked your age after I posted. I was already getting greasy when you were born. I was 6 when I worked on my first vehicle. Been getting greasy ever since. I have found out a few tricks to minimize the mess. This keeps wifey happy.

I've got a sheet of old OSB underneath to soak up any fluids.

Originally Posted by larryblack

You can disconnect the tranny from the engine, remove the linkage and IF you have the tranny supported and some spotters you can pull the engine with the converter attached. I have found it is easier and safer to just pull the engine and tranny as one unit. Then disconnect it from the engine on the ground. If you get too much of an angle between the engine and tranny when pulling the engine only and the converter is not disconnected from the flex plate, you can bend the inside of the converter an possibly bugger the input shaft to the tranny in the process.

Ithink I will be dropping the pan first and going that route. And if I still can't get it to rotate, I'll rethink pulling it with the torque converter.

[machine shop tom]

See if you can use a big screwdriver on the flexplate teeth to get the crank to turn (using something as a pivot or fulcrum to do so).

tom

[Bob C]

Just take the bell housing bolts out and pull the motor with the converter still attached. You will probably have to change the front trans seal. The motor is most likely not worth saving anyway.
Bob