need to get the crank bolt out on my ls1. it's an a4 car, so I can't just put it in gear to lock the motor. I read about a flywheel locking tool, but I don't think I have ever seen one. Where can I pick one up?

Or do you guys have an alternative suggestion?

 

On the 360 in my Ramcharger I just put a breaker bar on it and put the bar up against the frame rail and barelly turned the ignition key for like 1/10th of a second. It broke it right loose. Just make sure you put it on correctly so that the motor doesn't torque the bolt tighter.

**Disclaimer** If you brake stuff doing this, don't come back to me!

 

I had mine on an engine stand and just put a big screwdriver between the teeth while I had someone turn the bolt with a breaker bar.

 

aaahhhhh

sounds scary to me man. if you dont have access to an impact, you can use the screwdriver method. it will take another set of hands though. you can find somewhere to wedge the screwdriver in between the flexplate and the block. you should be able to find the tool at any sears or auto store Id think, but I dont have one cause with an impact, you dont really need one. when I torque that bolt, I just have someone hold it with a screwdriver. you do have a new bolt right? thats crucial along with the heavy red loctite. ask whiplash what happens if this isnt followed. why you changing that bolt anyways? you doin that cam change?
chris

 

If you can't get a hold of the flywheel locking tool, the screw driver method works fine. Shoot, my wife actually got under the car and held the screw driver last time. It's a simple matter to wedge the blade into the teeth and use the bellhousing for leverage to hold it.

Now putting the sucker back in there was a bit more challenging though. It's tough to get those extra turns in at the end to hit the torque specs. hahaha

Rick

 

Mike I can't help you with the flywheel lock but you really should come over and get the custom installer that I made. Some have used the old bolt to pull the balancer back on and pulled the threads out of the crank nose instead. I made an installer that screws all the way into the crank then pulls the balancer on with a nut. Send me an e-mail at home if you want to grab it.

 

agreed that the stud/nut is the ONLY way to do it. if you use some grease and a washer or two inbetween it will remove some friction and make it that much easier.