problems with bellhousing bolts

[exfordman]

'81 K10 350, sm465

i'm doing a clutch and flywheel job, or trying to rather, all i have left to disconnect is the bellhousing from the block, i've got the lower 2 bolts off of the right side as well as the lower 2 off on the left side, but i can't get the top 2 bolts off.

my dad who used to work in a shop said that they always used to use extensions and swivels to get them off, i tried that with both a ratchet as well as a impact, but i cant get enough torque with the ratchet or breaker bar, and the impact isn't working either, i've tried from the top with a wrench and a bar and i can't get that either. this is my daily driver, i'm borrowing a car from a friend for the time being but i need this back on the road asap!!!!

anybody got any tips or tricks? I know you do, YOU GUYS KNOW EVERYTHING!!!!!

thanks in advance guys

[motornut]

some trucks seem closer to the firewall
but i use 2 wrenchs if it's a tight fit
one on it the other,2nd box end 90 degress to the the first,sits in the open end
hard to explain....
ive even seen holes drilled and rubber caps used!

[Keith Seymore]

Sounds like you are trying all the right things; swivels and breaker bars from the bottom or wrenches from the top.

I'd try those again with more leverage (aka "cheater pipes"- pieces of black pipe slipped over the end of the breaker bar) - or - go with drilling holes through the firewall and plugging later, as Motornut has suggested.

Try to keep those swivels as straight as possible (minimize the angle).

K

[exfordman]

when i used the wrench i did use that 2 wrench trick, im soaking them in pb blaster now, in hopes that will help, and i have been trying to keep the swivel as straight as possible, good to know that theres nothing major i'm missing, makes me feel like less of an idiot haha

[exfordman]

i was thinking about picking up one of these from harbor freight, it comes with a 14mm wrench end, which is the same size as the 9/16" i need, i think it ought to help a good bit

[blazer2007]

I made a piece of flat bar and bent it just a bit and used some hose clamps to hold the wrench onto it to make a longer wrench and got the bolt off from up top

[KQQL IT]

3/8 impact wobble 18" extension with a 1/2 end . And go to work
Posted via Mobile Device

[Geb58]

I built a long wrench to get them from the top. Welded a 9/16 box end to a 12" -1/4x1" flat bar then "custom" bent the wrench end. Works every time... Otherwise an 18" extension and swivel with a shallow socket is my next choice (like the other guys said).

[exfordman]

hmm i'll have to try the extension and swivel trick again, i was using more than 18" of extensions though, maybe it will work better with only 18" worth

[4x4toy]

Put one of your bolts that you removed back in. Lower your trans cross member so you can get closer to the top bolts with the engine/trans tilted down. Use a shorter and thicker extension.

[exfordman]

Originally Posted by 4x4toy

Put one of your bolts that you removed back in. Lower your trans cross member so you can get closer to the top bolts with the engine/trans tilted down. Use a shorter and thicker extension.

ill give this a shot too, but right now i have to go to work, i'll try it when i get home


thanks for all the help guys, ive found this to be a more helpful forum than any other forum i've been a part of

[ont_guy_38]

Originally Posted by exfordman

ill give this a shot too, but right now i have to go to work, i'll try it when i get home


thanks for all the help guys, ive found this to be a more helpful forum than any other forum i've been a part of

Yes, you loose more torque as you add length
One thing that has worked for me is getting your wrench on there and then smacking it with a big hammer, sometimes the sudden blow will loosen the bolt.

[geezer#99]

A tip for you guys!
If you have trouble with your swivel flopping around making it hard to get the socket on the bolt try this.
Wrap some black electrical tape around the joint. Makes it more manageable especially when reaching into tight spots.

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

A tip for you guys!
If you have trouble with your swivel flopping around making it hard to get the socket on the bolt try this.
Wrap some black electrical tape around the joint. Makes it more manageable especially when reaching into tight spots.

Yup. This old trick works great.

[meatwagon83]

let the back of the motor down until the dist almost touches the firewall, then you can use a couple extension to get to it, if that doesnt work i have gotten to the from the top with a ratchet wrench

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by meatwagon83

let the back of the motor down until the dist almost touches the firewall, then you can use a couple extension to get to it, if that doesnt work i have gotten to the from the top with a ratchet wrench

Agree. Sag the back of the engine down and you'll have a more straight shot and your impact should buzz them loose. Anytime you're using a universal, the further away from straight it is, the more torque you lose. With a decent impact and a fairly straight shot, using a long extension and a universal, they usually come loose.

Also, long extensions soak up torque and multiple extensions stacked onto each other do too. This is one case where a single, long, high quality extension is worth the money. I've got a set of fat SnapOns that have taken bolts off where cheaper ones just sat there and hammered without budging them.

[Dsquared]

does the floor around the shifter come out? if it does,you can go in that way with an impact.

[exfordman]

i got it guys, i knew i needed to eliminate the swivel in the first place but didn't know how, once i dropped the trans/xfer case (had the fiance watch to make sure i didn't run the dist. into the firewall) and from there it was a straight shot and just used a extension a ratchet and a cheater pipe, came off pretty easy, thanks guys!!!!!! got everything out and just gotta pull apart the flywheel pressure plate etc etc, then just do everything again backwards

[Desert1957]

On my engine swap , I just removed the center floor panel and shifter boot , and they were right there staring at me.

Desert