Damaged FlexPlate
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Damaged FlexPlate
1996 LT1
My son called and told me he ran over something and damaged his flexplate. Now he's getting a grinding sound when he starts the engine. Grinding sound on one attempt then engages correctly on the next. So he's looking at changing the flexplate.
Question is: Is there enough clearance to remove the flexplate by just unbolting and sliding the converter rearward?
Thanks,
Jake
My son called and told me he ran over something and damaged his flexplate. Now he's getting a grinding sound when he starts the engine. Grinding sound on one attempt then engages correctly on the next. So he's looking at changing the flexplate.
Question is: Is there enough clearance to remove the flexplate by just unbolting and sliding the converter rearward?
Thanks,
Jake
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 7
From: Tampa Florida
I've never tried but provided that the flexplate bolts back out without stripping the heads/corners off from the limited wrenching space - I still don't think it can be done without backing all the tranny's bell housing bolts out to gain some extra space to slip the plate out. The Flexplate ends up almost flush when mounted on the "step" portion of the crankshaft but the converter (depends on the converter) slides about a 3/8" to a 1/2" into the crankshaft to keep things lined up. So with that in mind and condsidering the thickness (1/2" of the toothed portion of the flexplate) the converter would need to slide back to ~1" or more to clear everything to slip the plate out.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
No need to remove the trans. Worse case would be to loosen (not remove) the trans to block bolts, etc., and slide the trans rearward a half inch or so.
But I'm thinking instead I can remove the 3 bolts holding the converter to the flexplate, then slide the converter rearward into the trans. Then use a box end wrench to remove the flexplate to crank bolts, then remove the flexplate.
I've done that to check the torque on the flexplate bolts (w/o using a torque wrench) but never actually tried completely removing the plate.
I just thought that someone had already tried this. Think I'll give it a try; nothing to lose.
Jake
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 111
Likes: 1
i haven't seen a 96 vettes trans but i was under the assumption they were the newer style case with the removable bellhousing that encloses the whole converter.. it must be the old style if you are considering sliding it back.. you are going to have to pretty much remove everything you would have to remove everything as if you were going to pull the trans in order to slide it back enough to get to the bolts so i don't see a benefit. besides you really want to make sure those bolts are tightened correctly. but i know you probably know this well enough.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
i haven't seen a 96 vettes trans but i was under the assumption they were the newer style case with the removable bellhousing that encloses the whole converter.. it must be the old style if you are considering sliding it back.. you are going to have to pretty much remove everything you would have to remove everything as if you were going to pull the trans in order to slide it back enough to get to the bolts so i don't see a benefit. besides you really want to make sure those bolts are tightened correctly. but i know you probably know this well enough.
Worse case, the entire trans would have to be slid rearward which would involve removing things rearward of the trans. That's what I'm trying to avoid; if possible.
At most I'd only need a couple of inches.
Jake
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
