flywheel removal

[grmrepr]

hey guys, I need to remove the flywheel from my 85 C10 & some people have told me it is easier to drop the tranny, others have told me that it would be easier to raise the engine. I'm just looking for a little advice on the way to approach it.

[Kalashnikov46]

if you can get it on a hoist its really easy from underneath, but with being ran over by a 06' dodge quad cab diesel, ill no longer work under a vehicle that isn't raised. so i guess id say pull the engine. however if you have a floor tranny jack and can put it on ramps, go for it. just cant get me under there. lol

[bitchin85]

Originally Posted by Kalashnikov46

if you can get it on a hoist its really easy from underneath, but with being ran over by a 06' dodge quad cab diesel, ill no longer work under a vehicle that isn't raised. so i guess id say pull the engine. however if you have a floor tranny jack and can put it on ramps, go for it. just cant get me under there. lol

kind off topic but my truck fell on me last winter and cut my arm and my forehead. lucky it didnt kill me. i was swapping the tranny. but puling the tranny is easy on these.. id do it that way, i just did it on an 88 about a month ago....

[Kalashnikov46]

Originally Posted by *****in85

kind off topic but my truck fell on me last winter and cut my arm and my forehead. lucky it didnt kill me. i was swapping the tranny. but puling the tranny is easy on these.. id do it that way, i just did it on an 88 about a month ago....

i was changing the carrier baring on a steep drive way which went onto a steep street. the ebrake lines had stretched so we thought the ebrake was set. when the axle was free the truck took off. i was under the wheel and it didnt have enough speed to go over so it locked up on my arm and drug for about twenty feet. when it got enough speed it went up my arm and onto my head/neck which acted like a brake along the asphalt. in total was drug about 30 feet. the weight of the truck had blown my muscle out of my arm. my neck was sprained. massive road burn covering my body. was in the e.r. for over four hours. lots of money and rehabilitation and i have about 50 percent of the muscle back and occasional neck pains.

the tires were 35 inch toyo crawlers.

i cant stress enoough how important it is to not rely on just one safty feature. dont just set the ebrake. chock the wheels to. and always use jack stands. even if it is on a ramp.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Better than 25 years of working in, around, and under, cars and trucks and I've never had a mishap (knock on wood!). But I learned from the best and Kalashnikov46 speaks the truth!
Stands will not suffice! I even block UNDER wheels that are off the ground so that the vehicle can still support itself above me if all other supports fail. Chock all supporting wheels that are still on the ground.
PLAN for disaster and it typically won't happen,...but if it does, you'll be safe and just need to clean your shorts afterward! LOL.
NOW the answer to the question posed,...easiest to pull the engine, but if you have to, drop the tranny,...you can lock up the crank from the rear to torque off, and on, the flywheel bolts from under the truck. Block the engine under the oilpan and be sure the rest of the truck is properly supported if it must be raised for the job.
Todd.
P.S. I'm an ol' OR nurse and Ortho surgical assist that works for a trauma/wound specialist now, so I see the VERY kind of stuff that Kalashnikov46 had to go through all the time.