PBCloud

Engine and Transmission are on the floor of the garage and I am attaching them, what is the best way to stop the engine turning over when bolting the torque converter to the flexplate. Its a 1970, 454 with standard auto transmission and a 3 bolt torque convertor.?

Your tips would be welcome.

Regards
Paul

71VetteLover

Hold the head of the bolt while you tighten the nut. It would be a lot easier to torque the nuts after the assembly gets installed and you can work under it.

PBCloud

There is only a nut as the torque convertor is threaded, the three bolts go through the flex plate and into these threads.

A good idea to wait until its back in the car and assebled as more to pull against, but just have to remember to do it and hence preferably want to do it now.

Kind regards
Paul

3X2

Some suggestions: Socket and breaker bar on balancer bolt? Wedge a screwdriver in the flywheel teeth through the starter opening? Hang a tag to remind you to tighten the bolts?

theandies

Get one of these

drwet

JoeMinnesota

Click a large pair of vice grips onto the flex plate (larger jaws have a gap at the back of the jaw and will clear your flex plate teeth). If you place them near a dowel, or screw a bolt into the back of the block (to act as a stop) you can torque your flex plate bolts and it will be enough to hold things from turning. Don't forget some BLUE Loctite on those bolts.

HeadsU.P.

If the harmonic pulley is not mounted yet, you can take one of those pulley bolts to the hardware store for a match in dia and TPI. But, ask for grade 8 and longer bolts. Then you can wedge a pry bar between those bolts for leverage, torqueing the flexplate.

OldCarBum

And one of these is ???

71VetteLover

Heck, just pour some water into the intake manifold. That'll do it.

71VetteLover

My TH350 uses 3/8" bolts AND nuts so what kind of a transmission do you have? A TH700R4?

carriljc

They're called flywheel turners (I had to look it up).
See below:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wmr-w80510

https://www.summitracing.com/search/...ibanner=SREPD4

427Hotrod

The flywheel turning tool is the correct and easy way. You can also wedge a wadded up red rag or a piece of wood etc between flyheel teeth and bellhousing. As you turn it..it will catch and hold it. You'll need to back it up a little to get it out so you can turn to next bolt. Make sure to get all bolts stated before you tighten any of them.

JIM

Big2Bird

Is that your "expert" opinion?

TCracingCA

I love all of these complex answers!

How about a pneumatic impact gun!

Naturally step it up!

Ps keep your body parts clear!

Terminal_Crazy

Hi
I'm guessing that the trans is NOT attached yet to the motor.

I'd engage the torque converter first into the trans.
It will need to be rotated to fit into the oil pump drive of the trans.
It will be _very_ hard to mate up with the engine attached.

I suggest mating the torque converter onto the box.
Mate the engine & trans together
Then couple the converter to the flexplate.

I've just rebuilt my TH350 and it took a while to get the converter to mate up and sit properly in the box.

HTH
Mitch

76bomb

The Low buck method...

I've pulled out a spark plug and put a length of rope in the cylinder on the compression stroke. (with Both Valves closed)

Cheap easy and if anything is left behind it will burn off.

caskiguy

Flywheel Turning tool from JEGS #60129

PBCloud

Thank you for all your suggestions.

Kind regards
Paul

lionelhutz

This is what I do since it's simple and works well. Everyone who's pulling engines should have a suitable pair of Vice Grips.