Basic Work Made fun
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
Basic Work Made fun
Tell me: Am I missing something or is there an easier way to get the crank pulley off an LT4 and actually out of the car with the engine in place?
I had to use a balancer puller with bolts I flattened on the edges to get the pulley off the hub.
All to replace the distributor, at least I'm doing a meizereWP118HD at the same time as the MSD opti (thanks jonescp.)
I had to use a balancer puller with bolts I flattened on the edges to get the pulley off the hub.
All to replace the distributor, at least I'm doing a meizereWP118HD at the same time as the MSD opti (thanks jonescp.)
Last edited by imputor; Aug 11, 2007 at 10:35 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,871
Likes: 15
From: Detroit's West Side MI
Lots of folks bang on the pulley under the car (protecting it with a block of wood, of course), then rotate the crank, bang some more, rotate some more...etc. until it comes off.
If you're ok spending another $300 (especially if you think you may be in there again someday) ATI makes several pulleys for the LT1 / 4 motor. Mine sticks out away from the block, so I don't have to remove it to get the Optispark out. Just pull off the waterpump and it's exposed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
With enough swearing, it will come out of there.
You'll probably have to rotate the engine though. You can stick another, shorter, bolt into the crank and use that to rotate the engine, or I've been using a strap wrench on the hub to do it the last few times I've had to do it. If it still won't come out, there are 2 nuts under the car that attach the motor mount to the frame. If you pop those nuts off, you can slide a jack under the transmission and jack up the motor about 1.5 inches. That should give you enough clearance to get it out of there.
The hub is a nightmare as well, good luck with it. Post up when you get it done!
You'll probably have to rotate the engine though. You can stick another, shorter, bolt into the crank and use that to rotate the engine, or I've been using a strap wrench on the hub to do it the last few times I've had to do it. If it still won't come out, there are 2 nuts under the car that attach the motor mount to the frame. If you pop those nuts off, you can slide a jack under the transmission and jack up the motor about 1.5 inches. That should give you enough clearance to get it out of there.
The hub is a nightmare as well, good luck with it. Post up when you get it done!
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
From: Bardstown Kentucky
Good luck man! I had to learn the hard way as well.
You will need to jack the motor up to get the balancer out of there.
http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/tapyz250/
If you decide you want to put a keyed hub on there Jegs sales a real nice one, make sure you get the one for the 96 it is a little shorter than the earlier LT1 because of the reluctor ring.
You will need to jack the motor up to get the balancer out of there.
http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/tapyz250/
If you decide you want to put a keyed hub on there Jegs sales a real nice one, make sure you get the one for the 96 it is a little shorter than the earlier LT1 because of the reluctor ring.
Last edited by 96lt4c4; Aug 13, 2007 at 11:15 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
Done!
Wow, just finished putting everything together and wiring the water pump today.
The first time I put the opti on I must not have had it in the correct position because I had to pull it back off, take the cover off the opti and wiggle the rotor around to get it on in the right position. And that got it to run just fine.
I never really got the balancer out of the car, just off the hub and that let me do everything I needed.
I got the MSD opti which has all of the mods as far as I know, at least I hope so for the price.
Put the meziere in with a relay triggered by the fan relay, it's switched on with the ignition so I can run it with the engine off.
The wires were a pain but nothing compared to the rest of the work.
I learned a lot about how this baby is slapped together.
Thanks for the help along the way.
Next weekend the exhaust is going on.
The first time I put the opti on I must not have had it in the correct position because I had to pull it back off, take the cover off the opti and wiggle the rotor around to get it on in the right position. And that got it to run just fine.
I never really got the balancer out of the car, just off the hub and that let me do everything I needed.
I got the MSD opti which has all of the mods as far as I know, at least I hope so for the price.
Put the meziere in with a relay triggered by the fan relay, it's switched on with the ignition so I can run it with the engine off.
The wires were a pain but nothing compared to the rest of the work.
I learned a lot about how this baby is slapped together.
Thanks for the help along the way.
Next weekend the exhaust is going on.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
When I put an LT4 damper on my '92 LT1, the only way I can put it on or take it off is after raising the engine about one inch -- there simply is not enough room for mine to come off otherwise.
I didn't have to do this with the LT1 damper.
But, I have read where there are mixed results for this -- some with LT4 dampers don't have to raise the engine, and some do.
Tom Piper
I didn't have to do this with the LT1 damper.
But, I have read where there are mixed results for this -- some with LT4 dampers don't have to raise the engine, and some do.
Tom Piper