trying to remove the timing cover from my 64 riv / 425. car sat for 30 + years in a garage in denver then went to estate sale. Now in Georgia for 2+ years and starting to go through it. some bolts were snapped off in the timing cover from the water pump removal and 1 thru it to the block. Anyhow i have been trying to remove the harmonic balancere from the motor and have had some problems. I have been threading 2, 2" grade 8 bolts into the harmonic balancer, putting a prybar between the two and leveraging the prybar against the frame, while slowly pulling on the breaker bar to break the bolt loose. Problem........, I keep breaking off the bolts @ the threadsou: I have broken off 2 in the balancer, no problem when I have removed it. But untill then I have only 4 more chances to loosen the bolt. I have tried PB blaster and others, but I fear I am treading down the wrong path. looking at buying a batterey powered impact (I live in a apartment and air compressors are a no no) WTF? I know they are torqed @ 200 ftlbs but come on. I dont see any other way to remove the harmonic balancer bolt from the crank. I dont want to heat it and hurt the balancer or the threads. HELP.......
I just accidentally removed mine on my 430. Basically, you can by getting a 1/2 inch breaker bar that is long enough to catch the frame or other solid part of the car while still having the socket secured to the center bolt in the harmonic balancer. Pay attention to how the motor spins, and rest the breaker to the part of the frame it will wedge against as the engine spins over. Unplug the coil, and turn the engine over. I accidentally did this to mine the other day when I re inserted my distributor and forgot I used the ratchet to line up TDC. I started the car, and heard a clank, then something fall. I turned off the car and found my bolt, ratchet, and socket were all under the front end of the car with no damage. Go figure.o No:
I know you said air compressors are a nono, but thats if you get caught. If you don't make alot of noise, no one should notice. My thought is if you have an air compressor with a decent size tank. Take it to work or somewhere else, plug it in and let it run. Then take it back to you apartment and don't plug it in. You will have a limitted amount of air pressure to work with but its much quieter. You may have to do this a few times but it sounds like an impact is the way to go.
Remove the starter motor and use a hugemongus screwdriver - one about the size of a crowbar - and engage it against the starter ring gear then wedge it. Put a long pipe on the end of your 1/2" breaker bar and go for it. To get the amount of leverage you need, you might have to remove the hood for a loooooooonger pipe.
I was able to break it loose with just a breaker bar. An impact works well too. Spray it down with WD-40, have a beer, then attack it. It's only set to 180 ft/lbs, so a sharp crack usually does it. For the stubborn ones, use a hammer on the breaker bar, or a quick snap with a 6 ft. snipe usually works. The key is to be quick, just prying on it does nothing, the key is a quick hard snap, which is exactly what an impact wrench does. Oh yeah, make sure you lock up the motor with a screwdriver or a prybar before attacking that bolt; - the subsequent ride over the fender if you don't may not be nice.
If using a wedge against the block, be CAREFUL about where you place it. You could end up breaking off a chunk of your block!
Thanks guys, I was hoping I would not have to get a custom plate made from the holes on the crank pulley, bolt it up and then try. I'll try the starter one and let y'all know.
once you get the crank nose bolt out,,, there is a puller for that,,, most auto supply stores will rent or loan it to you..... makes removal easy.....
