remove crankshaft from underneath???

[Werner R.]

i need to have my crank ground. someone said that the crank can be removed without pulling the engine by doing it from underneath. but, don't you have to remove or slide back the transmission in order to remove the input shaft from the pilot bushing?? am i missing somthing here?? seems to me it is best to pull the engine. any thoughts??
werner

[Mark S. Lovejoy]

Re: remove crankshaft from underneath???

Werner,

The crankshaft will come out without pulling the engine from the chassis. But, the transmission must come out first.

You did not specify what generation Corvette you have. C1, C2 and C3 engine ransmissions can be pulled as a unit fairly easily. That's what I would do.

[Mike B.]

Re: remove crankshaft from underneath???

Werner,

It is better to pull the engine as remember you will have to put the crank back in. That takes a lot more finesse to get it just right. It would also afford a better look around the engine. If the crank is worn, perhaps you should check the cylinders and rings too. Regardless, I think that the crank could be removed in place if you really want to. I once did an "in frame" rebuild on an antique tractor that way.

And you are correct, the transmission will likely have to be pulled back to free the pilot bearing and to gain some fore-and-aft play on the crank. I suggest that you first remove the clutch/flywheel. With some "grunt" you should be able to reach up into the bell housing through the inspection plate and disconnect the flywheel by indexing it as you remove the bolts like you will do to remove the pressure plate. You should also remove the front pulley and harmonic balancer to make things a bit lighter and to let it slip past the front seal. You should then have enough fore-and-aft clearance to drop the crank without having to remove the timing chain cover. Otherwise, if you have to remove that cover, you mine as well pull the engine as the water pump has to come off first which means the front motor mounts are affected. Either way, it is not going to be a quick or easy job. It just depends if you want to look up or look down when you are working on the engine.

In any event, make sure that you mark all of the crank main and connecting rod caps and corresponding hardware so it all goes back in the same order.

Please keep the board apprised of your progress and any hidden "gremlins" that appear if you do remove it while in the car. And note to others: Please weigh in if you've ever actually performed this job on a ? year 'Vette.

And finally, please wear safety glasses! There will be lots of fugitive oil drips.

[Mike M.]

Re: remove crankshaft from underneath???

remove engine from chassis. only time i worked on the bottom end of an engine was at age 15, in a pit i dug in the frozen maryland earth to replace a rod bearing on an old jeep. would rather sort polecats than work on the bottom end of any engine in prone position. mike

[Werner R.]

Re: remove crankshaft from underneath???

thanks to one and all. you are VERY convincing [and informative]. it may possibly be done by mid summer as my wife and i are very busy restoring our old farm house. first things first, she says, and i can think of no way to argue her point.
best
werner

[Mike M.]

Re: remove crankshaft from underneath???

werner: i've restored our 200+ year old farm house and i wouldn't do it from the bottom either. good luck with both projects. mike

[Clem Z.]

the engine will need to be taken apart

if you spun a bearing the whole engine should come apart to clean out the debris as it will be all thru the engine

[Tracy C.]

agree with mikie, some things are fun to do from

the bottom side while on your back.... R & R of a crankshaft ain't one of them!!

tc

[frank mccracken]

Sort pole cats????? :-) Me neither! *NM*