balancer bolt

Could someone tell me the best way to keep my 455 motor that's bolted to an automatic trans. from turning when I losen and tighten the harmonic balacer bolt ?

Thanks, Rick

 

Take the inspection cover off the flex plate and put a BIG screwdriver through on of the holes in it. I've jammed a block of wood between the teeth and the ground too.

 

The screwdriver trick is one way to do it but I have had great success just using my air impact wrench and letting it do the work. It doesn't even change position my engine is in.

 

Make sure you've got a good impact wrench!
I was unable to get mine to pop with a "decent" impact wrench.
It was on a stand. We ended up putting a bolt in the back of the crank flange, then rotating it to a point that a pry bar could fit between the bolt head and the crank. As it "rode" up, it created an interference with the stand. A 2 foot breaker bar made it seem easy.

Do a search and you'll find the starter/breaker bar/frame method for loosening it while in the car.

 

There is the old standby of just using an 1 1/8" socket and a pull bar against the frame and bumping the starter. Guarenteed to work but I just wouldn't want to be standing in front in case the socket broke.

EDIT:
Disregard this! I forgot that we were tightening, not removing.

 

rope

Theres always the rope in the cylinder trick!
- Bill

 

Re: rope

I don't know if I like that idea. Sounds kinda risky to me. :shock:

 

i have had to hammer on it for upto minute with a 1/2 impact before it would break loose.

 

Thanks for all the input, I've always just put a large screw driver in one of the holes in the flex plate and turned the motor over until the screw driver caught on the trans. and oil pan then take a breaker bar and socket to it. I just thought there might be a more easier way than crawling under the car with a screw driver.
Rick
:beer