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.

 

[JJMaine]

When I was putting my engine back in someone on here gave me a valuable tip because I was worried about doing the same thing. I wish I could remember who told me but I can't. Anyway, I wrapped the nuts in Teflon tape so they wouldn't fall out of the socket on install and it worked like a charm. Hell you could probably even use a glob of heavy grease to hold them in place long enough for you to get them started. Good luck In sure you'll get her!

 

[red78ta]

Ok ok so I was having issues with the TC studs firing into the flex plate. One would be in and another behind and I couldn’t pull the TC in…. So I pulled the engine… again. The flex plate looked funny, I think it was bent; so I swapped it to the other flexplate last and this morning I lined everything up perfectly, and when I got it real close I went under and pushed on the trans a little and it all slid into place. I think the key is having the TC studs lined up with the flexplate holes. Everything I was reading was saying to pull the tc Forward after installing but that wasnt working. Anyway. It’s bolted together and the TC studs/nuts are all on. I have to torque them yet but I can’t fit my torque wrench up in there so I’ve got to borrow a smaller one or get a real good feel for 30ish for lbs and do it by feel. Anyway I’m celebrating by watching ds9 with my wife since she works from home today.
Oh and try inspection camera came in handy lining things up.

 

[JJMaine]

Nice one!

 

[red78ta]

I couldn’t resist going back out. Got the starter on and the exhaust hooked up. Only thing I should have to go under the truck for now is to plug in the o2 sensors.