4.0L SOHC Pulling the SOHC for inspection

[SenorNoob]

Coat hanger?

 

[thunderuncle244]

figured I’d get an early jump today before I take my kid to the dr, just wanted to get the flex plate to torque converter nuts on finger tight so I can torque them later; and wouldn’t ya know it first one I dropped into the bell housing and I can’t get it out. I’ve been stacking one of those “pen magnets” down in there but I can’t find it… I really don’t want to have to split the engine/tranny again…

this is why sometimes i wonder why all cares dont have inspection covers

 

[red78ta]

Okay, separated the engine and tranny and got the nut out, got em back together but haven’t put the nuts on yet, will do that tomorrow. Time to relax.

 

[thunderuncle244]

Okay, separated the engine and tranny and got the nut out, got em back together but haven’t put the nuts on yet, will do that tomorrow. Time to relax.

definetly time to relax after that

 

[red78ta]

So the torque converter bolts are lined up with the flex plate holes, but I can’t get the nuts on bc the bolts don’t come out far enough out, and I can’t get the TC to move outward at all… any ideas? Could I have jammed the TC back to far when putting the engine in? It spins with the flex plate…

 

[SenorNoob]

Does that torque convert have a snout that seats to the crankshaft? If so maybe a little debris there?

 

[red78ta]

Does that torque convert have a snout that seats to the crankshaft? If so maybe a little debris there?

I don’t know. I’ll have to pull the engine completely apart from the transmission to see, and to have enough room to do that I’ll have to lower the front end and roll the ranger half way out the garage and then jack it back up. So maybe that’ll be Saturday or Sunday. Today I’m gonna take the engine stand back to my buddy at the weld lab and while I’m there heat and beat some metal into a “flat hook” that I can maybe fish behind the TC and try to pull it forward. We shall see.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I didn't read the whole thread. Did you originally have a manual transmission? If so, did you remove the bushing/bearing from the back of the crank?

 

[red78ta]

I didn't read the whole thread. Did you originally have a manual transmission? If so, did you remove the bushing/bearing from the back of the crank?

No both trucks had auto trans

 

[red78ta]

Spent a big chunk of today on the ranger. Pulled the engine completely out, checked the TC, everything looked ok and it spun freely and came out easy. So I spun it back in and tried to mate the engine again. Adjusted the chains and tried a few times and and it finally did just slide together. Got it all bolted up and TC studs lined up with flex plate holes and the TC doesn’t want to slide forward so I can spin on the nuts. I’ll try more again tomorrow.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

You'd think a removable front clip would be more common in small vehicles with big engines. You're killing it up there, man! Your patience is certainly a virtue I need more practice with.