Hi All,
I have been having a sporadic problem lately with my solenoid clicking once on each start attempt but no cranking. After about a week of checking I found the problem tonight.

It was not bad ground, not +ve battery wire, not solenoid or solenoid terminal or bad starter motor,(no electrical problems) rather the flexplate.

One of the flexplate to torque converter bolts had loosened itself throwing the flexplate out of whack. The bolt itself was not letting the discplate move. After I tightened it (40 ft./lbs) i hooked up a remoter starter switch to the solenoid terminals, took off the inspection cover and pressed the button.

The starter engaged and rotated it.

Now a new dilemna although I realize it's a ticking time bomb.
I saw that between each of the flexplate to torque-converter bolts are two holes. Then there is the inner hole whcih goes over the input spline perhaps.

The flexplate has cracked (I mean completely broken off) between two of the holes and the inner hole. Question is:
1.) What does the flexplate do. Is it just for the starter to engage and move the torque converter and thus crank the engine, or does it help the torque converter to power the input spline as well.

2.) The way the flexplate has cracked how much time do i have, before it goes completely out of whack, i.e breaks into pieces. As i saw it tonight with the starter engaging and rotating the flexplate it still is off balanced.

Here is rough sketch of the flexplate as i saw it with the cracks.
Thanks a ton again for all your help.

Regards Sean

 

you need to replace it, no other way around it.

 

And when you do, be certain that the mating surfaces of the crank to flexplate, and transmission to rear flange of the engine are whistle-clean. Any misalignment there can cause premature failure of the flexplate.

 

Flexplates/flywheels are balanced. If you have a good sized chunk missing it is throwing the balance off, a lot. And the cracking will only get worse in time and can lead to catastrophic failure (Boom goes the flexplate) and wipe out other things in the process. Replace it ASAP.

 

Got it.
So not to drive around until the flexplate is fixed. Is it a DIY. I could see that the transmission may need to be unbolted to get the flexplate off.

If a buy a 153 sbc flexplate (it should be available as brand new) will I be able to just bolt it on after taking the old one off and the tranny out and all that.

Would you know a ballpark figure if i was to go to a shop.

Or should i just wait for sometime, swap the auto for a manual (because I was planning to swap one in anyways).

Thanks Sean

 

Yes it is a DIY.

The instructions for replacing it are in this thread, about 10 posts below this one.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=214709

 

RB83L69,
You are my Hero (as well as the others) :hail:

I have read your posts on various issues and i must say your knowledge on cars in general and the Camaro is very very good.

Thank you Sir

Oh! and to confirm the correct flexplate is 153 teeth, 12-3/4" flexplate for sbc (about $35 brand new from local parts store).

 

.

 

http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDeta...pe=267&PTSet=A

Less than I thought, actually...

Oh, and thanks for the good word! I only try to pass along the stuff I've picked up along the way, usually the hard way

 

my lower transmission line got bent when pushing the tranny back. I got the flexplate all changed but now it leaks from the transmission end where the lower line goes into the tranny .

Is there a way to seal it without having to replace the entire line.