Flex plate

Can the flex plate be changed without disconnecting the tranny from the engine ? I think the flex plate can be disconnected from the torque converter , and the torque converter could be slide back into the tranny and the bolts removed from the crank. Then drop the flex plate down and exchange it. Anybody ever heard of this being done ?

Not really, don't have enough room to work or slide the plate off the crankshaft without at least moving the trans back a little. I did one years ago on a K5 Blazer, took the drive shafts out, balanced the trans/t-case on a jack and with the help of a couple buddies, slid it back about 6" so I could change the flex plate but didn't let the jack down at all. Everything slid back together like butter. Could not have done it the way you described

Simple answer....no.

Not gonna work.

Agree, no

It can be changed by sliding the tranny back slightly on alignment bolts/dowels. Use a long box end to remove the bolts.

Capt Wayne said:

Can the flex plate be changed without disconnecting the tranny from the engine ? I think the flex plate can be disconnected from the torque converter , and the torque converter could be slide back into the tranny and the bolts removed from the crank. Then drop the flex plate down and exchange it. Anybody ever heard of this being done ?

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Okay,I read your post wrong,I thought you wanted to slide the transmission back,which you can do. This is the easy way.Go buy two long starter bolts, take one bolt out of the transmission on each side,replace them with starter bolts,take out all the other transmission bolts. Support your engine support your transmission pan on a block of wood on a floor jack. Take the rear ujoint loose wrap it in electrical tape so it can't come apart,leave the driveshaft in the transmission. Undo the crossmember bolts and torque converter bolts. Slide the transmission back letting the front hang on the starter bolts and transmission pan on the jack. You will have enough room to reach in and unbolt the flex plate. There's even an art to doing it with out a flex plate turning tool. If you turn the flex plate with a wrench on one torque converter bolt you can position it to get to 2 torque converter bolts. Loosen 1 use the other to turn the flexplate to where you can get another one then Loosen the last one. It's how I do them,everytime,at work on a rack same way,just using a transmission jack instead of a floor jack. Usually enough flex in the lines speedo cable is long enough,if cable shifted,the cable is long enough and pushing the transmission back in is so easy,the starter bolts slide it right back where it was.

If the transmission is an automatic don’t forget about the metal lines going to the cooler…

No, I've replaced the flex plate by sliding the th400 and NP208 back on long 3/8" bolts, of course after disconnecting crossmember, driveshafts, lines, linkage etc.

Thank you all for your replies. I hoped that it could be done , but its never easy is it. Thank you Ricko1966 , the long starter bolts is the trick , I'm sure I have a couple laying around the garage . This is a great group , again , Thanks to All . Wayne 1983 GMC Sierra1500

Capt Wayne said:

Thank you all for your replies. I hoped that it could be done , but its never easy is it. Thank you Ricko1966 , the long starter bolts is the trick , I'm sure I have a couple laying around the garage . This is a great group , again , Thanks to All . Wayne 1983 GMC Sierra1500

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I wasn't quite clear enough I question in how I wrote that. The last 5 lines needed some punctuation to be more clear. Usually enough flex in the lines, speedo cable is long enough,if cable shifted the cable is long enough
Anyway try it with the lines connected,see if you have enough flex,it makes less mess and saves a little time.If you have to you can loosen the lines.