3.4 4x4 flywheel dust cover removal

I’m changing clutch on my 3.4 2004 4x4 manual. I have separated transmission from engine, but realized I forgot to remove the flywheel dust cover, which sits in front of the flywheel, and will prevent the transmission from sliding back to be removed. I was able to remove 3 of the 4 bolts on this plate. The passenger side bolts were easy, one drivers side bolt was hell, the other is proving damn near impossible. Do I need to pull the front sway bar and axle, or is there an easier way to get on this bolt? Thanks!

Matt

 

Can you take some pictures I have no idea what your talking about

How can something behind the fly wheel against the engine hold the transmission

Are you talking about the plate that stiffens the rear of the engine that should not hinder the transmission being removed unless it might be installed wrong by the last person in there.

The removing the sway bar is one of those things some do some never do.

Myself I like having the extra room.

 

It looks like the FSM calls it the rear end plate. When bolted to the lower bell housing, the flywheel sits between this plate and the bell housing. When I try to slide the transmission rear, this plate hits the flywheel. The FSM clearly states to remove this part...I cannot get to the damn bolts holding it on!

 

When I did my clutch I don't remember having any problem getting them off. I don't have a sway bar. If that's what is getting in your way it's real easy to take off.

 

It is attached to the transmission, and in front of the flywheel. It has to come off to get the transmission out.

 

I’ll crawl back under and take a look. Hopefully the sway bar is all that’s in the way. I’m usually pretty creative accessing tough to reach bolts.

This one has me stumped. I can’t imagine this doesn’t come up, as many guys have pulled this transmission on their gen 1’s before me. That’s one reason why I’m wondering if there’s something simple I’ve overlooked.

 

I guess if worse comes to worse you could just cut the end plate. Once the transmission is out you will be able to bet the bolts out easy. Obviously make sure you can get a new end plate somewhere first.

 

I wound up twisting the transmission around a little bit and was able to better access the final bolt. I’m still not 100% how ill get it back together but the transmission is out, pressure plate and clutch are out, and I am shocked at how good of condition this clutch is in for 212,000 miles.

 

Is this something that is common to leave off after the first time??

Started after 2003 which was the newest clutch I installed

I have never seen one that had to be removed to remove the Transmission

 

Don’t know. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone reassembled everything and skipped this part. I contemplated not putting it back. I think I can get it back with 3 of the 4 bolts without much problem. I can’t see how it won’t last like that for another 200k miles.

 

Did yours have that plate?

 

Mine did not that is why I had no idea what you were getting into.

 

The sway bar should not be in the way of those bolts, it’s bolted to the front frame and the end links attach to the lcas. No where near the tranny. Is it something aftermarket you or someone installed that’s in the way or does the first gen sway bar mount rear to front on my first gen I could swear it’s mounted just like the 2nd gen.

 

Nothing aftermarket on this truck. The swaybar is not in the way. The axle and steering system were all blocking access to these bolts.

 

Gotcha. It sounds like somebody else busted up their knuckles and cussed a lot before you got to it.

 

Clutch is in, just need to button up the drive line. That stupid plate is back on the front of transmission, minus 2 bolts. It’s not going anywhere.

 

I've taken it off but could have sworn I just used an end wrench.

 

How hard of a time did you have getting your driveline together?

 

I’m saving that for tonight. I just ran out of time last night. I don’t anticipate problems. Is there something tricky there?

 

Yeah. I just attempted mating the two last weekend. Needless to say today I will be redoing it. Something went wrong. If it's not perfectly square then there will be issues down the road.