[screamingchief]

I do it with a screwdriver or a flywheel turning tool.

Yep,the flywheel tool is my recommendation,the right tool for the job,and hands down the safest one,no chance of hurting/cracking the flexplate or block like there is when jamming the screwdriver in one of the holes and wedging it against the block.

Money spent on good tools is always worthwhile,they pay for themselves many times over!

I use that tool to hold the flexplate,and I use my snap-on 28" breaker bar on the bolt,never a problem on either end!

Makes quick work of the job,Unless it's a manual trans car and the bellhousing prevents using the holder on that end.

If that's the case,then I'll use the rope deal,just be sure if you do that that your doing it on TDC of the compression stroke and not during the exhaust stroke/overlap when the valves are both open,for obvious reasons.

Also be sure to use a natural fiber rope,and not a nylon fiber rope,if any fibers are left behind the natural fibers burn off much easier and safely.

I try to avoid "wedging" the flexplate thru the holes unless it's my last resort,but have had to on a few rare occasions,just be real careful when doing this that way.

HTH,Bret.

[cerino2000]

Originally Posted by screamingchief

I try to avoid "wedging" the flexplate thru the holes unless it's my last resort,but have had to on a few rare occasions,just be real careful when doing this that way.

HTH,Bret.

Beware of doing this as I have two flywheels that I did this on and both of them bent the flexplate! I didn't even realize it until I was picking a flexplate to send the the engine balancing shop. Inspected them real close and sure as heck they were bent at the hole where I had put the tire iron. I now use the method of wedging to two bolts installed in the rear of the crank shaft.

[rolling money pits]

if there is still juice to the starter, you can use a breaker bar and extension on the bolt, then wedge it to the ground/frame on the drives side.

disconnect the dist then bump the starter, bolt will be loose in a nanosecond.