How to Remove the Flywheel From a 351W

The Ford 351 Windsor engine first appeared in 1969 and was used extensively throughout Ford's car and truck lines. The 351W was fitted with a single one-piece flywheel that bolted to the back of the crankshaft. Along the edges of the flywheel were a number of teeth. When the starter turned, a gear from the starter meshed with these teeth and turned the flywheel. The flywheel then turned the engine. If the teeth are worn down, the engine can be difficult to start. The most efficient manner in which to remove the flywheel is to remove the transmission.

Instructions

1

Remove the negative battery cable from the battery with an open-end wrench.

2

Raise both ends of the vehicle with a jack and lower the vehicle on a jack stand positioned underneath each corner of the vehicle.

3

Remove the four nuts that secure the back of the driveshaft to the differential with an open-end wrench, and lower the back of the driveshaft to the ground.

4

Remove the two bolts that secure the starter motor to the front of the passenger's side of the transmission with a socket wrench, and pull the starter away from the transmission.

5

Remove the two cooler lines secured to the driver's side of the transmission with a flare-nut wrench, and allow the fluid within the lines to drain into a drip pan. Each line is secured to the transmission with an in-line nut.

6

Remove the speedometer cable from the driver's side of the transmission with an open-end wrench. As with the cooler lines, the speedometer cable is secured to the transmission with an in-line nut.

7

Remove the nut that secures the shift linkage to the driver's side of the transmission with a socket wrench.

8

Remove the bolts that secure the front of the transmission to the back of the engine block with a socket wrench.

9

Remove the four nuts that secure the front of the transmission's torque converter to the back of the flywheel with a socket wrench.

10

Support the weight of the transmission with a floor jack positioned against the pan on the bottom of the transmission. The floor jack must be fitted with wheels, as it will be used to pull the transmission away from the engine.

11

Remove the two bolts that secure the transmission's cross-member to the vehicle's frame with a socket wrench and an open-end wrench. Hold the nut at the back of the bolt with the open-end wrench and loosen the bolt with the socket wrench.

12

Pull the transmission away from the engine using the floor jack to expose the flywheel.

13

Remove the six bolts that secure the flywheel to the back of the engine with a socket wrench, and pull the flywheel away from the engine.