383 Builder blues! This guy may very well know his way around a motor and a machine shop but I'm wondering about a Corvette? So far he says he saved time by not removing the front end / (hood). I don't know how the he-- he got the engine out ,to say nothing about how he will get it back in. Then he is troubled with the extra labor of pulling the exhaust and x frame to get the transmission out. So he thought he would pull the motor and let the bellhousing hang with the transmission in place. Said it was like pulling on a rubber band, it wouldn't come out. The next time saver was to cut a hole in the bellhousing to get at the bolts in side. He now has the motor and flywheel out with the bellhousing ,throw out bearing and clutch pack stuck on the transmission. Don't you just love people that can't read the directions to any thing. The way of life is don't force it go get a bigger hammer! He never saw a dual mass flywheel or took the time to get a good look at a picture or ask some one before cutting the hole. The guy sounds sincere but I bet some said that about Jeffery Dalmer to. God can I pick them. If my back was not so screwed up I would have took on the job of the in and out grunt work. So far the whole flywheel back needs new, one top ring was busted and a back bearing was about shot. He says the crank had a big front to back slop wearing on the back bearing. Old flywheel out of balance? Darn glad I'm having rebuilt it didn't have much time left.

UP DATE. 11-15-06
THE 10126448 MAGNESIUM BELLHOUSING IS TOAST. Looks like it was about to catch fire. The sides by the pipes are all blistered , cracked and lumpy. GM has the part as discontinued. Found two old adds to day and both sold. Another good reason not to put on headers. Maybe headers would run farther away from the bellhousing but for sure put off more heat. Maybe this whole idea is like up dating a computer. You start with a 286 put in $1000. in new faster parts and have a 286 that runs just as slow as it did but now locks up and stalls. There is always the weakest link or bottle neck in every thing. Flywheel & clutch stuff are in. Busted ring, timing chain slop big time and bad bearing.
Any one run across a after market bellhousing for a 91? I sure don't want to have to put this blistered and cracked bellhousing back in. Darn that last one was new in the GM box for $130. Took him 18 months running adds to get rid of it. Missed it by 2 months.

 

You are in deep trouble. Bubba is working on your car. I would seriously think about paying what is owed and towing it home, or any place safe. This story is going to get worse otherwise.

 

Removing and installing the motor without removing the hood is no problem. However, I wouldn't let anybody cut anything on my car that wasn't being replaced.

 

I took my engine and trans out w/o removing the hood. I removed the driveshaft first, then the trans, then the bellhousing, and lastly the engine (at that point the engine could just be removed straight up). I'm having trouble figuring out what he meant by "cut a hole in the bellhousing to get at the bolts inside". You may wanna start looking for a flatbed because chances are good you won't be driving away from this guy's shop.

 

I think the nut holding the wrench should be replaced.

 

It is almost impossible to get the bellhousing bolts on an auto c4 without tipping the rear of the reans down. My method is to pull the heads off while it is in the car. Then, access to the bell bolts is simple. Pop the block out, trans and exhaust can stay. Hood can also stay on.

 

 

Nothing good can come from this

 

Petes right separating the engine from the trans is a beeyotch.
I have removed a few LT1s without pulling the tranny, touching the C-beam, or removing the hood/radiator.

I get the bell housing bolts from underneath. To remove the upper ones I using a LOOONG extension (aprox 30"), and flex socket/universal socket.

What I find to be the biggest PITA is the d@mn banjo bolts on the back of the heads.

In regards to the Dr. Mengela experimenting on your car; I'd pay him now and grab the car and run.

Mike

 

I think they changed the firewall a bit in the lt1 years. My bolts are right against the firewall. It would help a ton if mine were accessable with the extension and swivels. Gm gets an "f" for doing this.

 

Its been my experience that cutting and running now is your best chioce. This guy is gonna cause you more pain and anguish than you should deal with, and then he'll charge you for it.

 

Why would he not just leave the bellhousing on the motor untill it was pulled? I have done this many times and have yet to drop my trany.
Here is the original motor on the way out


Here is my old 355 going in

 

I obviously am doing something wrong. I bought two 36 inch extensions that I put together to reach over the transmission to get at the two upper bolts. works very well. Eaiser if you have someone to guide the socket on but I usually work alone and get r done.

 

You've got Mickey Meatcleaver working on your Vette...not a good thing at all. As it stands, its likely too late to bail out (though I'd try) as most shops won't take in a "jigsaw puzzle" (meaning a butchered taken apart car). If you can find somebody qualified, who'll take the job, then get it out of where it is....fast!

FYI, I have a 36" special extension (1/2" drive with a 3/8" stud at the other end), designed for transmission bellhousing bolt removal (you get one off the Snap-On truck). The C4 is a bit more tricky, but not all that bad to get at the bolts.

Good luck to you!

 

Muffin and Racerx have the best way to go about the job.


"...cut a hole in the bell-housing..."
holy crap. That's bad. Get out of that shop if you can.

 

I'm having a hard time picturing where he cut a hole in the housing? Where would that even help?

 

Maybe he is cutting holes in the floorboard to get at the bolts

 

That will most likely be the next move to cut a hole in the floor or fire wall. Think I'm stuck. Who in there right mind would take on a mess like this. Try to get all the parts , load it on a flat bed and pay 3 times more. Lets all hope it was a one case night in the shop and will never happen again. Let us pray to the great Corvette God in Kentucky! You have to shake your head and laugh if it is some one else haveing the bubba job. Some day I might think it is funny to. Right now I'm not sleeping well and when the phone rings I jump. Don't mater where I take a car it gets screwd up. GM Good wrench has screwd up the wifes 04 Monte Carlo SS Intimidator front end. If I get a brain tumer I'm going to take it out my self. Don't trust any one..

 

runaway

 

Where are you?
Quite possibly another forum member would help you out. Your profile is blank though.