I Really Need Some Advice!

[Big Jimbo]

My transission won't separate from the flex plate!
I just spent another two hours under my 97 LX 450 wrestling with the transmission. (I did remove the 6 bolts) I have inserted screwdrivers between the TC and the Flex plate, I have pushed and pulled on the transmission jack, I have squirted PB Blaster up to the middle of the flex plate, and now I really don't know what to try next. How hard can I push and pull on the trans without damaging the TC?
How have you other brave souls gotten through this mess with your cars? I am open to ANY suggestion short of bringing it on a flat bed to the dealer!

 

[Cruiser Jimmy]

Jimbo,

There should be 8(maybe9) bolts that hold the tranny to the flex plate.
I have an FJ80 and not an FZJ80 so the trannys bell housing's are a little different.

Did you see the two bolts way up top? Reach your arm up to the top and feel around.


Edit: Thanks Dan for the FZ edu.

 

[cruiserdan]

The starter is not bolted to the flexplate. That would be a bit inconvienent.

 

[Cruiser Jimmy]

Here's a pic of an A440F tranny with all the bolts holes. The A343F [your tranny] will be similar with only one difference, your starter is on the other side.

 

[Big Jimbo]

Sorry I wasn't clearer. I can't get the flex plate to separate from the torque converter and I took the 6 bolts out that hold them together. I can pull the bell housing back about 2" before it stops.

 

[Cruiser Jimmy]

Make sure your HIGH/LOW range gear shift selector is dropped below the body when you drop the tranny. You may have to angle the tranny's ass end down toward the floor in order to clear the selector from the body.

The Flex plate and torqure convertor are connected by 7 attachment points.
Six bolts and one centering ring that attaches to the TC and that fits into the flex plate. I think this is what your catchup on.

You may want to drop the tranny down in order to have better access to work with the torque convertor.

 

[Big Jimbo]

Thanks, It must be the centering ring. Any tricks to getting it to let loose? I squirted penetrating oil up there and have pryed with a long screwdriver without any luck.

 

[cruiserdan]

I think you might be able to remove the transmission and leave the converter stuck to the flexplate. The converter is not bolted to the transmission. You would have to excercise extreme cauton so that you do not damage the oil pump or the converter. If I were going to attempt it as a last-ditch effort I would reinstall a couple of the bolts to keep the converter from falling of at a bad moment. After the ransmission is out of the way you would have more room to work with to try and remove the converter from the flexplate.

Other than that, I am stumped.

 

[Big Jimbo]

Dan, that doesn't sound good. The trans has seperated about 2" from the engine and seems to stop like the torque converter only moves so far on the shaft. I wonder if I could have damaged the pump or torque converter by pulling on the transmission?

 

[Cruiser Jimmy]

The centering ring, which is on the same plane as the trans/engine centerline, is only about an inch long. The TC only slips over the input shaft and oil pump shaft. I can't fathom any way that the TC is attached to the tranny.

Attach the TC back to the flex plate with one or two bolts and drop the tranny.

 

[Big Jimbo]

Thanks! It looks like I have my Saturday project lined up! I will let you know how it works out.

 

[landtank]

that center pin will bind up pretty good if you don't have the tranny supported so that it is still aligned to the engine and able to slide straight back off the pin. If it is sitting low and "hanging" on that pin you will have a hell of a time getting it to separate.

 

[Big Jimbo]

Thanks guys! With your advice and support I got the flex plate seperated from the TC! I was able to insert a thin Stanley pry bar between the two and tap it with a hammer and it popped apart! It looks like there was some type of varnish deposit on the guide pin that stuck it together.
I then took out the main seal and main seal carrier. It looks like the leak was actually from the carrier seal, not the main seal. (but the main seal was really stiff) Anyway, now I can start putting it back together!!
Thanks! Jim

 

[radioguy]

Make sure you put anti-seize on the centering ring upon assembly. That prevents the convetor from "sticking" to the flex plate.

Todd

 

[Cruiser Jimmy]

Thanks guys! With your advice and support I got the flex plate seperated from the TC! I was able to insert a thin Stanley pry bar between the two and tap it with a hammer and it popped apart! It looks like there was some type of varnish deposit on the guide pin that stuck it together.
I then took out the main seal and main seal carrier. It looks like the leak was actually from the carrier seal, not the main seal. (but the main seal was really stiff) Anyway, now I can start putting it back together!!
Thanks! Jim

No problem. Good luck with fixing the leak. Like the FZ engine, the 3FE's have been known to leak from that area. My first tranny drop was for a RMS job, but when I finally got it down I noticed the oil pan gasket was leaking more than the RMS.

BTW, Welcome to MUD.