REALLY stupid question: How do you keep the engine from turning to get the flywheel bolts out? Also the Pulley bolt. Block is out.

steve77

Steve77, my method is fairly simple. For both ends of the motor, I re-insert one of the bell housing bolts into the engine block close to the flywheel ring gear and lock a man size flat blade screwdriver into the ring gear teeth and against the bolt. Just make sure you are on the correct side of the bolt for the task at hand i.e. undoing or doing up. Have an assistant keep the screwdriver engaged while you attack the relevant bolts with a SNUG fitting socket and a breaker bar extension to your socket handle. Since the pivot of the screwdriver is so close to the point you want to stop rotating, the effort required to lock the flywheel is only moderate.

Anyhoo, take care when you do the job.:classic:

Another suggestions along Graeme's line of thinking. I took a three foot flat metal bar, drilled two holes that lined up with two bolt holes on the flywheel, and let one end rest on the ground at a slight angle and bolt it to the flywheel. As I turned the bolts off or torqued them on, the flywheel stays put. Same as the man-sized screwdrive method just reduced possibilty of slipping. I hate bloody knuckles.

If you have access to one, either an air or electric impact works pretty well too. You don't need to use any armstrong bars.

I've also seen a unit that is a flat piece of steel plate that has a tooth cut into it and a hole where you can bolt it to one of the transmission mount holes and it will capture the flywheel. I remember it having some tabs that bent back to keep it from spinning. Here's a crude attempt at what I remember it looking like - should be pretty easy to fab up:

That's a great tool. I need one of those right now. Kudos to the Z-Nut from St. Louis, MO.

I used a 2 pound mallet and whacked the end of the rachet. A few good whacks and the bolts came right off (I mean loose).

I have done this several tims over the years. -- remove the #1 spark plug, turn the engine over manualy by the crankshaft nut,stop turning when you are on the COMPRESSION stroke, stuff a length of COTTON rope in the comb cham then manualy take up the remaining space by turning it over with the crank nut again, This stops the pistion from completing its stroke. That will hold the engine still while you work.

Zvoiture,

If the oil pan is off, I stick a piece of wood (a wedge or even a hammer handle) in between a crankshaft throw and the side of the block. That stops the crank turning very postively, doesn't unduly stress anything, and avoids the @#%& screwdriver slipping off the ring gear and sending your knuckles into sharp hard engine parts.

Bill

Impact wrench does the trick coming off,

Must take more civilized approach torqueing back on...

Screw driver on the tranny bolts is tricky one man job using torque wrench

David

I use a short length of chain. One end bolted to a transmission mount hole in the block, and the other end connected to one of the pressure plate bolts. Need to have washers to keep the bolt head from popping though the chain links

Hey Steve, how's the race car doing? Is this engine your working on out of the racer? Sounds like a lot of good ideas, regarding the removel of the flywheel bolts. Here's another one, that I used. Take a couple of bolts, with enough of a shoulder, and install them in the pressure plate housing mounting holes on the flywheel. Placed them such that they allowed access to the six flywheel bolts when a bar is levered against and across them. Place something under the bar to stop crank rotation or have an assistant hold the bar. If your really good you can handle it yourself (I know you can!) You can use this method for removel and installing the flywheel bolts. Let us know how it goes. If you get frustrated.....have another glass of wine. Good luck and nice hearing from ya!

P.S. Have you put any more thought into the Santa Paula Airport deal. Let me know and if you want some assistance. I'll be glad to help out.

Stick an 5 or 6mm allan key in one of the bellhousing bolt holes and spin it clockwise until it hits the ring gear.

Locks it up nicely.