Flex Plate

burntnerves · April 23, 2006

I need to replace my flex plate and was told that I could do it without removing the tranny and t-case. Has anyone done it? that SOB is heavy

03blackburb · April 24, 2006

I do believe the engine weighs a little more than the tranny and transfer case. The flex plate is bolted to the end of the crank and the torque converter. You can remove the torque converter bolts without pulling either the engine or tranny, but to get to the crank bolts you have to seperate the engine from the crank. You will either have to pull the engine or drop the trany and transfer case. Personally, I would rather pull the tranny and transfer case.

oldredhat6 · April 24, 2006

I assume you are pulling it out shadetree and not at a shop that has all the lifts and tools. If you are pulling it in your driveway, what I have done in the past is use a big floorjack and some wood blocks to lower the tranny down. This is better than pulling it and dropping it on your chest.

Hope this helps, as you do have to drop the tranny to get to the crank bolts. Easier than pulling the engine as you have to disconnect everything from the engine. Dropping the tranny and t-case you have minimal disconnects: driveshaft, fluid lines, electrical harness and shifters.

burntnerves · April 25, 2006

Hey, Thanks! Yeah, I guess it is safe to assume that I'm shadetree'n it. I was hoping... oh well. I just bought this truck for $500. It has a new 350 (under 15k) 4x4, lumber rack and utility boxes ( I'm a contractor) so with all that I figure I still got a good deal. well, I guess I'd better get some plywood to lay on and a floorjack and get at it. Thanks Again

Delray · April 26, 2006

I need to replace my flex plate and was told that I could do it without removing the tranny and t-case. Has anyone done it? that SOB is heavy

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have replaced the flex plate before with out taking out anything(but the driveshaft),I removed the driveshaft.remove the linkage and any wires and the dip tube.if I had to I used two jacks and some blocks to support the t-case and trany(I welded up a couple of braces to slide up on the inside lip of the frame to hold the trany/t-case so as to slide them back).I Loosened the cross member bolts.I Took out 2or3 trany bolts and install grade 8 6 inch bolts in there place,I removed the rest of the trany bolts and the cross member.with some help to steady things move the trany and t-case back R+R the flex plate and reassemble.

This worked for me.

Steve

BTW I removed the torque converter bolts and it stayed with the trany!