So, I have everything loose and was starting to pull the thing out and it would hardley move so I went back to the book and realized that I had forgot to pull the 4 nuts that connect the flywheel to the torque converter.

now comes the problem:

there is about 3/4 inch between the motor and the trans, I can see all 4 nuts and can kinda get to them, but when you put an open end wrench on them it slips and there isnt enough clearence to get the box end of a wrench on it. I cant spin the motor to get them to the bottom for removal because the motor is locked up.


So how do I get these 4 nuts off with out spinning the motor?

 

Well the way I see it you have two choices . 1 to pull the engine with converter intact . It will come out of the transmission you just need a couple of extra inches of space . or 2 pull the oil pan off to free up the cause of the lock up (maybe loosen main caps up a little or reposition broken rod or what ever is causing the lockup ).

 

I didnt realize you could pull the converter out with the engine. if it can be done it definately seems to be the easier answer, but I have never done it before so I dont know which would be easier.

 

pull the tranny.

 

that seems like an even bigger PITA....but if I need to, I need to....

I was thinking about grinding down a wrench so it would slide past the slot...

 

Yes you can pull it with the engine if you have the extra room up front but you cannot put it back in that way . There is no way to index the converter with the transmission front pump having the converter bolted to the flywheel on reassembly
On some cars such as FWD cars there is not enough room to leave the converter attached.

 

Yes, the converter just slides out of the tranny. So if you have the room, that may be the answer. Don't be afraid to wiggle it however you may need to get it free.

 

well, I have managed to get it to seperate from the tranny about 3/4 of an inch, maybe a little more. Its up and past the motor mounts by just a bit. I think i'm going to go with the wiggle the **** out of it until it pops loose and hopes that it does. I REALLY dont want to pull the tranny out if I dont have to.

Do I need to pull the bottom of the motor mounts, I know there are bolts that can come out, but the only ones I pulls were the ones that go through the mount.