My 87'Trans Am recently blew a rod. So I'm trying to hoist out the engine but it won't budge. I've disconnected everything necessary, but had to leave in the torque converter to the flywheel and two bellhousing bolts. The problem is that I can't crank the engine by hand to get to one of the torque C. bolts, I don't think the engine is frozen because I drove the car into the garage. So, I tried to hoist out the engine with the torque converter but I think it won't move because I left two bolts in the bellhousing But it's strange because the heads of these bolts are so far recessed that it does'nt seem like they have any grip on the bellhousing, and because of the recession a 13/32 is too small for the bolt head and a 7/16 is too wide to fit in?
So Ultimately my question is are these bh bolts holding down the engine( I've already taken out six) or is it too difficult to take the engine out with the torque converter? How am I supposed to crank the engine properly?

Thanks for you're time Nick Mc

Try a socket and breaker bar to move the crankshaft with the center pulley bolt. If it doesn't move, its locked up. Don't use too much force and break the bolt. If it won't move, it won;'t move. I've seen blown engines run but for some reason when they cooled down would not crank. If you've still got 2 bellhousing bolts in, you'll definately have to get them out, if they go into the engine!

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76 Camaro/mild 350 .030/M21/Z28 body parts/lotsa other goodies

As XK1 suggested, try with breaker bar and socket in both directions.

However, if it still doesn't turn, do this, get some clay and try to make an impression of the recessed bolt. This will give you an idea of the access area and of the size of socket, read type of, Torx, etc. to use.

After removing the last remaining bolts, place a drain pan underneath the transmission torque convertor, and pull the t/conv with the engine, remove later.


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Everett 68/350/PG/11.90/115mph

Are you sure you're not mistaking the dowel pins for bolts?

I tried cranking the engine with a breaker bar, I ended up just tightening the bolt, so I guess it's locked up. Not sure weather those are dowel pins or not, could you explain a little more? And I'll definately try that clay idea.
Thanks!!!!!

Why don't you take the tranny with it. Sounds like there must be a fastner that has been over looked and for all the trouble you are going through sounds like it would be quicker...

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...Dennis
"The '69 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fine69_03.jpg), the '96 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fine69_02.jpg) & the club (http://camaroslimited.com/)"

Is the problem that the engine will not rise off of the motor mounts, or that it will not seperate from the transmission?

Djd, Looks like it's got to go to that, thanks for the advice.

Sorry Kyvox, missed your message.

It's clearing the mounts- no problem.
It just won't break free of the transmission,
the bellhousing does not look like it's separating from the block at all.
Those two bolts are so far recessed it just doesn't seem like they're holding down the block?

If you're going to pull them out as a unit, go ahead and put a couple of the bellhousing bolts back in. If it is just frozen at the dowel pins, you won't want the transmission to fall when you get it up in the air.

The reason the engine and tranny won't seperate is that the input shaft on the tarnny is binding on the torque converter.

You'd have to come up to clear the mounts, then prop the tranny up, lower the engine to relive the stress on the TC/tranny shaft, then slide the engine up and out at an angle...tough work.

As mentioned above, bolt it all back together and pull it as a unit.

I fully agree with 8 mike 9. It is much easier and can be done on a stand. Lot's easier to re-install too!
Good Luck
JJH

Well, there goes the tranny, thanks everybody.
Nick Mc