In the middle of a cam swap. Now to take off the timing chain it says to crank the engine until the marks on the two sprockets line up. Ok, so i see the marks but how the heck can I crank the engine?

Can I just turn it over by turning the key? I mean the intake is off,water pump valve covers.radiator...etc. I cant think of any reason I couldent crank it by turning the key like to start it, but I thougt Id check first.

thanks

 

Good luck getting it to line up by bumping the starter.

You could remove the torque converter cover, grab the flexplate, and turn it by hand. An extra set of eyes will be needed to watch the mark. Also, having the plugs out would help a lot too!

If you have a welder, and old cam sprocket, and a large socket your willing to sacrifice (must be large and deep enough to slip over the crank snout), you can make a tool to turn the eng with.
The only trick to making this is you need to crack the sprocket (before welding it to the socket) right at the keyway so it will slip on and off the crank easily.

 

there has to be an easier way. What about using the balancer removal tool to turn it?

You say good luck getting it to line up, cause oviously it will be hard, But it wont hurt the engine to try will it?

 

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...rt=SUM%2DG1063

 

way 1: put socket on the crank dampener bolt... turn clockwise until the dot is at the top

way 2: push on the flexplate until the dot is at the top

way 3: if the belts were still connected, turn the alt by hand... that would slowly turn the engine.

 

• 1. Use crank bolt
• 2. Swear loudly and uncontrollably when one of the 2 possibilties happens:
• 3a. After the bolt breaks, drill it out and Heli-Coil the crank
• 3b. After it strips the threads out of the crank, drill the crank and Heli-Coil it
• 4. Get the crank socket mentioned above

Don't use the crank bolt, you will regret it. If you're lucky and nothing tears up, then ..... you're lucky.

 

Slip the balancer back on & turn it by grabing it with both hands (mechanics gloves make it a little easier on the hands). If that won't work, thread 2 bolts in the balancer where the pulley bolts on & put a pry bar between them to turn it. BTW I have gotten away many times by turning the crank bolt, but like RB said, I may regret it the next time.

 

heh, when i wrote that i had assumed he had the heads off for some reason... so i'll be more specific..



if the plugs are out, or the heads are off, theres almost no resistance to the engine turning, so you can use the crank bolt.



if the heads are on and the plugs are still in, the compression of the motor will make you push really hard on the handle, and you will strip out your cranks threads....



you can always buy a socket that fits over the crank and onto the keyway of the dampener if you dont want to pull the plugs out.

 

And Vader's favorite...use a strap wrench on the balancer.

Edit:

Ooops, never mind, didn't read close enough to see you were ripping everything apart.

 

I think ill pull the plugs....I have to put new valve springs in anyway

edit...Actually..im a go buy the crank socket

 

i stopped by the machine shop last week to check on some prices, and noticed that he didn't stock a crank nut.

i want one, so he ordered one for stock.

for $20, you can't really go wrong.

when trying to adjust the valves on my 305, i tried turning the engine over by the crank bolt.

guess who was swearing loudly and uncontrollably when i stripped the threads in the crank?

i got lucky though, we were able to tap the threads out to a 1/2" 20 thread.

 

I turned mine over with the crank bolt when I was young and stupid, but I never will again. Question, though; why does the crank strip so easily when the thing has to be torqued to 60ft/lbs?

 

it strips easily because its iron, not steel.

 

and to think....i used an impact wrench om mine when i did my engine swap

 

are you serious or joking?

 

after reading this, i guess im lucky...yes, im dead serious. its a 350 h.o. crate engine