help please guys

[fordsuck]

hi all, i am trying to replace the tranny on my v6 vr commy & have run into a problem. I cant get the torque convertor housing cover off, i have removed all the bolts i can see & it seems loose but it doesn't have the clearance to come off. My question is what else do i have to remove?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Have you taken the starter motor out?

[fordsuck]

no still on, just been following my ellerys book & it doesn't mention anything about removing the starter motor.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Unless the cover has a slot in it where the starter bolts to it, then it has to come out.

[jimbojones889]

just curious how many ks are on ur VR?

[fordsuck]

245000 kilometres

[DannyboyDS]

what about the brackets either side of the cover? they go from the trans to the engine block, at least one of them will have to come off to remove the cover, and well, both if you plan on removing the transmission.

[fordsuck]

can't see any brackets, the cover looks like a 1 piece casting with 4 x 15mm bolts "cover to auto" & 6 x 13mm nuts on studs " cover to engine". the studs on the engine seem to be stopping the cover from coming off.

[fordsuck]

Does anyone have any ideas ??????????????

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

You might have to pull the studs out then. Lock two nuts together on the thread then undo them.

[fordsuck]

I have removed the front 4 studs, but the 2 studs near the auto can't be accessed. I will give the the 2 nut idea a try, but i don't no if the stud is long enough.

[fordsuck]

well the studs are to short to get 2 nuts on, any other ideas?

[stockyvrcalais]

hi, mate i ran into this very same problem a few weeks ago, and the only way i could figure out what to do was to drop the steering rack, but what i did instead was i just slid the auto out with the converter still bolted onto the flywheel, (i just wanted to keep the auto as a spare), i know what your saying i couldnt for the life of me work out what the f@%# was going on!

[maldotcom2]

I did this yesterday. If you don't have your gearbox jack at just the right height the splines on the input shaft won't slide out from the torque converter. If you can, slide the transmission back a few cm, then use a spanner to unbolt the torque converter from the flex plate, 3 bolts, use a big socket on the crank shaft pulley bolt to turn it around to access all 3. Also use a socket and breaker bar to lock the crankshaft against the chassis rail so you can undo the bolts without the transmission spinning.

[fordsuck]

your right guys, spoke to ortos autos yesterday & they said move the rack. Have done this & cover is off at last!!!!!! The next battle is to get the convertor/flywheel bolts off. I have tried using a ring spanner but it slips off the bolt head as it is so thin, any advice?

[fordsuck]

hi all again, the flywheel/convertor bolts seem to be super tight. stupid question are they
right hand threads???????

[delcowizzid]

yeah they undo the normal way anti-clockwise

[fordsuck]

thanks for the quick response, time to try undo the f*#ks again!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maldotcom2]

Use a ring spanner with an offset to get up in there better.

[fordsuck]

Convertor/flexplate bolts out at last!!!! next problem a puddle of engine oil under the convertor this morning , i think the rear main oil seal is stuffed.

[vlv8vic]

keep at it mate. you'll get there eventually. many would have given up and smashed a window by now.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Convertor/flexplate bolts out at last!!!! next problem a puddle of engine oil under the convertor this morning , i think the rear main oil seal is stuffed.

It's probably because the engine is leaning back more than it normally is. That seal will leak if the oil is on it all the time.