How can I turn the Flywheel to get access to convert bolts
 

What can be used to turn the flywheel and what direction should I turn it? I need to unbolt the flywheel from the converter. Is it hard to get it to rotate? I have a 327 chevy engine and a TH 350 Tranny. Thanks!

Flywheel turning tool or a socket and breaker bar on the damper.

Or...you can take all the plugs out, that makes it much easier to turn

Loaned my Flywheel turning Tool to a friend, He tried turning it with the Trans in Park, destroyed my Tool. :rolleyes: :mad:

Not really sure how that is possible... :drunk: The Motor will run in Park.. :)

pry bar
 

I have a 472 caddy running my saw mill. It sat for about 10 years not used. I pulled the plugs, shot in some oil then pulled the starter and used a pry bar on the teeth , worked it back and forth to loosen it up. I fired it up, ran good, and i worked it pretty hard cutting some large juniper logs, It's time to get a good battery, gas and just run it for a while.

I'll second that. Don't have to worry about the engine rolling too far as the pistons go past TDC either. As far as I'm concerned it's a no brainer to pull the plugs for something like that.

Why does such a simple thing go overlooked so often?

What if you pulled the coil feed wire then do a quick bump with the starter, assuming it it still in.
Brad..

As you stand in front of the engine, for normal rotation you will turn it clockwise, or toward the driver's side. You can also turn it backwards if you go a little too far and something does not line up the way you want.

If you clamp a set of curved jaw vice grips on the outer ring of the flywheel you can usually turn it by hand that way. The end of the jaws clamps over the outer ring and as you apply leveralge the vice grips will rotate until the inside of the jaws are up against the flywheel teeth. I've also slipped a section of pipe over the vice grips to get more leverage, but you don't need that if the plugs are out.

The vice grips are only good for turning it a short distance, but very useful to reach flywheel bolts or get timing marks to line up. I also painted a white line where the flywheel lines up at TDC, which saved a little time when adjusting valves. Just remember that it could be TDC for either 1 or 6.

Bruce

X2 :thumbup:


Cole
:pimp:

Will my timing be off after turning the crank.
 

Thanks for all the info. I got the converter unbolted by turning the flexplate with a long screw drive. Having to rotate the engine to get all the bolts will this put my timing out of whack. is there something I need to do before I start it. First time messing with these parts, just don't want to mess things up. Thanks!

If you have not taken out the distributor or loosened up the hold-down bolt and turned it you haven't disturbed any engine timing settings.

The relationship of the flywheel to the torque converter does not make any difference, so you have not disturbed the timing. Just make sure the bolts line up and that they are tight. Some flywheels have multiple bolt holes and only one set will line up properly. Its also a good idea to use Locktight or Blue thread locker to keep them from loosening up later on.

Bruce

Thanks
 

Thanks Bruce! Time to put the tranny back one. I did not remove the torque converter so I shouldn't have to add oil to it right?

If you did not drain any oil out of the transmission or the converter, then it should be okay to start it up. Then check it warm with the engine running to make sure its at the right level.

Also make sure you get the vacuum line connected up to the TH350 modulator and that you have metal line (not a rubber hose) running up to connect to manifold vacuum on the engine. The short hoses that connect to both ends of the metal vacuum line running from the engine also seem to pop off fairly easily as the hose softens and gets hold. Using a new piece of rubber hose on each end reduces that problem.

Bruce

I forgot to mention the Torque Converter Clutch was locked up, 700R4 Trans. I had also removed the Plugs & jacked up the Rear for Him. :rolleyes: