I am in the process of swapping my 700r4 (first time attempting anything like this...) I understand that there are three bolts connecting the TC to the flexplate, correct? and that in order to reach all the bolts I'll need to manually turn the engine? Well I was not aware of this, and my serpentine belt is removed from my engine and all of the oil is drained from it (did A/C delete and other things). Is this going to cause a problem with my turning the engine manually? I'm guessing I'm going to have to re-fill the engine with some oil before cranking it? Also do I just take a socket wrench to the bolt at the front of the engine on that big pulley and crank it?

Please answer ASAP, I'm trying to get this thing done!

 

Yes. Yes. No. No. Don't bother. Yes, if you want to cause yourself lots of extra trouble. If you prefer to avoid tearing things up, like either breaking that bolt off or stripping the threads in the crankshaft, get a flywheel turning tool.

 

Thanks for the info... where can I get a flywheel turning tool (your basic AutoZone-type auto parts place?), about how much will it cost, and how does it work?

 

I'm in the process of replacing my 700R4. When I removed mine I just cranked on the bolt on the pulley to turn the flywheel. It worked for me. I didn't know about a special tool for turning the flywheel. I am interested in where to get them and how much they cost because I still need to put the new tranny in and I will be removing another one next week to replace a torque converter on my buddies car.

 

I ended up cranking the bolt on the pulley as well, worked fine for me. Now I'm having an impossible time with the cooler lines.... grrr...

 

Get a 1/2" line wrench. It's really the only way to get them off. I had to lower the transmission a little to get to them.

 

You are one of the lucky ones! If you must use the balancer bolt, AT LEAST remove the spark plugs...a strap wrench is the best sollution.

 

Here's the one RB was talking about.

Here's another possible way to rotate the crankshaft.

Either will work fine. It might not be a bad idea to have both in your tool box. After all, there's no such thing as "too many tools."

 

I think I would be more worried about breaking one of the teeth off the flywheel with that tool than I would about breaking the bolt off the crank pulley.

 

http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summ...id=00945571000

This on the balancer...

 

That one looks a little more reliable.

 

I've got the tranny lowered and I'm using a 1/2" line wrench, and I still can't get them off........

 

Good luck. With the tranny lowered slightly and a 1/2" open end wrench I could get them by putting the wrench horizontal to the transmission (means tucking it up next to the tranny tunnel) It was a bear, but it finally came out.

 

They are a B*tch..no doubt about it..but as mentioned lower the tranny as much as possible and plan on short strokes...its even tougher to get them on!..

 

That's not what I wanted to hear. My tranny still hasn't arrived from Pro-Built yet. Getting the lines off was such a PITA I was really hoping they would go back on easier. Oh well.

 

Actually, in my experience they went back on much easier than they came off. You'll likely be able to clean up the threads before reinstall (if needed) and you'll know how to apply a little pressure to the hard lines to get the threads to line up properly. Be careful not to cross-thread em. Mine went almost all the way back in by hand tightening...then just torqued em up with a 1/2" wrench. That turned out to be the least of my problems..

 

I managed to get the lines off okay, just used (small) vice grips and twisted it a few times...

My tranny is officially dropped... now I'm trying to figure out how to get the new one up there....