I often have occasion to dismantle engines that no longer turn, but have the
torque converter still attached to the flexplate. At least one of the bolts
will be hard to access in the bellhouse area. Usually they come out readily,
if you can just break them loose.
Std issue wrench will not access it- needs to go about 3/16" around the
corner of the ring gear. Socket and thin flex head Craftsman ratchet are too
fat to fit in. Std issue offset box end wrenches have way too much offset.
Torch works well, but I hate to destroy a 330 flexplate or a switch pitch
converter.
Years ago, I made an around- the- corner wrench by bending the shank of a
std issue box wrench to suit. It was OK, but had ring gear interference at
certain orientations. Also, I never quite got the shape of the handle right,
to clear the block perfectly. It was too short to apply the necessary tork
w/o a 'billy extension, too. Finally, it broke a while back. Latest 330
needed the TC removed w/o turning the motor again, so I figured it was time
to Do It Right.
Seems there is just enough room between flexplate and block for a typical
wrench handle. Just need the box of the box end to extend 2-3 sixteenths
inch out. With a thin wall... like a socket.
Rounded up 2 sockets yesterday. Snap-on 12 pt 9/16 [cannot skimp on the
12-pt], and USA made 6-pt shorty. Went to Buy-n-Sell store and procured the
USA made [S-K] offset box end wrench in 3/4 and 25/32" [useless?] sizes-
which just fit over the sockets. Placed box in vice, heated shank to red,
bent out straight, quenched while hot. Both ends. Using the scrap flexplate
as a guide, I then put wrench over sockets Just The Right Amount, and
secured the sockets to the wrench with weld.
Voila'
I now have the world's only [?] SLIGHTLY offset 6-pt and 12-pt Barely Around
the Corner Wrench.
Pix later?
Hey, maybe we should start an Olds Tool Share program, for those tools you
only need once in a great while? I have several Special Tools. Can make just
about anything.
-----------------------
Chris Witt
*the* Rocket Scientist
1303 W. Miller Rd.
Lansing MI 48911
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cell 517-449-0432 weekends or short weekday calls or leave message.
Home 517-882-9747 thru 10-11pm MI time most days
