OK, before I pull the first bolt. There is a tab off of the bottom of the torque tube(for impact?). It's more like a square box that hangs down in front of the torsion bar tube. Am I going to have enough room to turn the TT to slide it back to access the bellhousing in the front. I know the later car have smaller tabs for impact. You can jut spin them 90 degrees and slide them back to the spare tire well for access. Or, am i going to have to pull the rear cros tube and suspension out? TIA

 

bumpity bump, work begins tomorrow. I need to know if I gotta put the car higher up in the air before I start.

 

Going to start on it today, I hope I don't have to drop the rear suspension. That would suck!

 

Is this an automatic?

 

Yeah, I'm mainly wondering if I can get the TT to spin enough to slide it back to gain acces in the fron bellhousing.

 

There is a clip on the end of the drive shaft in front of the AT dampener.

As I pulled the engine on an 86 auto and left the drive train in the car I had to remove the starter, take the nine socket head bolts out of the perimeter of the flex disk and split the engine off at the bell housing. A real PITA to get to all of the bolts. Be sure to remove the speed and reference sensors first.

If you unbolt the flex disk from the flywheel and the torq tube from the bell housing you may be able to pull it and the torq tube back far enough to get to the clip leaving the engine and the bell housing and the flex disk in.

I didn't try it but from what I can remember it seems do able.

Are you replacing the flex disk or what?

 

Yeah, the flex dics/dampener is shot. Thanks

 

I'm not sure there is sufficent room to drop the flex disk through the bottom of the bell housing by just pulling back on the torq tube. You may have to take the bell housing off.

There also is a bolted clamp on the transmission side of the flex disk that has to be loosened. Think the bolt has to come all of the way out because it passes through a slot on the drive shaft.

Be sure to get the clip back on the end of the drive shaft or the drive shaft will push the torq converter into the transmission. Ruins your whole day.

 

Well, I'm about ready to pull the bell housing loose from the motor. Thanks, we'll see how this goes.

 

Finally found my damn flex joint for the 1/2" rachet, 1 bolt left and it i now raining. If that ain't my luck. Guess it's time to get wet(in a bad way).

 

You did take out the nine socket head bolts that hold the flex disk to the flywheel?

 

Andy, too bad you don't live in houston. I am doing the exact same repair. I started in the beginning of the summer, and with work and all have not had the time to complete it. The hardest parts are getting the top tranny mount bolt out, and realizing you have to drop the rear suspension (which isn't that bad). You don't have to take the rear suspension completely apart, just remove the rear cross member tube as a whole from the car. It might add a night or two, but it makes the disc much easier to remove, and more importantly replace.

Right now, i am at the point where i have put my new disc in, and just starting to reverse procedures.

Keep us updated.

 

I've been on it since noon, it's almot 6 now. Ive taken it almost all the way apart. I've had one 1hr break for rain 2 half hr reaks for mosquito releif and am on a rain delay again. I loosened the impact bar, it clamp on the torque tube. I should be able to gain enough room to do it. We'll see. BTW, how the hell do I get to the reference senor bolt. I've had the motor up and down, but can't seem to get to it. UGH!!!!

 

I have a special cut down allen key. Still a pain as is the top bell housing bolt.

 

Yeah, with alot of choice words, a few new scars, and about 10 and a half foot of extensions, I got the top bolt. I guess I'll be cutting an allen wrench. Thanks