Finding top dead center with a 9/16 wrench

[Blue Brick]

Before I go ahead with this, I wanted to get some feedback from everyone here. Are there any concerns or warnings I should be aware of when trying to find top dead center by turning the torque converter with a 9/16” wrench?

 

[#41]

Take all the spark plugs out so you are exerting minimal force on the bolt. This will eliminate the risk of breaking the bolt or stripping the hole out.

 

[66 Sat]

Why not put a socket on the crank bolt?

 

[493 Mike]

I'm sure lots of us do that operation just to tighten flex plate cap screws. Just try not to over tighten the screws. A long wrench helps too.
Mike

 

[6PKRTSE]

I would not try to turn the engine over by a torque converter bolt. Even with the spark plugs out. My luck, I would break it off. As mentioned, use a socket on the crank bolt. A 1-1/8" socket with a 3" extension on a 1/2" drive breaker bar or long ratchet works good on all of my cars.

 

[WileE]

For a moment I thought, how are you sticking a 9/16" into a spark plug hole ? Nah... silly... he means laying the wrench across the deck above the piston and using a tape measure from the wrench to the piston.

 

[Unkle Krusty]

A dial gauge is cheap. Making a mounting bracket is cheap and easy enough. Turning the engine using the crank bolt works, with the plugs removed. I have no idea about a 9/16 spanner and a torque converter.
Can I assume the heads are off?

 

[Blue Brick]

Factory A/C with no room to reach the bolt with removing the fan and fan shroud. Unless someone know a handy tip/trick how to do it?

 

[pnora]

Factory A/C with no room to reach the bolt with removing the fan and fan shroud. Unless someone know a handy tip/trick how to do it?

You will have to turn it from underneath if that's the case. I have never seen one yet that can not be reached with the right sockets and extensions.

 

[Blue Brick]

I will take a picture later, it's tight with no room. The fan and pulley are super close to the fan shroud.

 

[pnora]

I will take a picture later, it's tight with no room. The fan and pulley are super close to the fan shroud.

What car and what engine? a/c?

 

[Blue Brick]

I’m sure you're familiar with motors, but I wanted to share a photo of mine for context.

 

[Blue Brick]

What car and what engine? a/c?

400 and air conditioning adds an extra belt grove to the pulley.

 

[33 IMP]

I'd pull the belts off, and remove the lower pulley. I would not attempt a torque converter bolt ( especially the little bolts 5/16 vs 7/16)
Besides, how were you planing on turning the engine in the opposite direction to find TDC.?
You could borrow a flywheel turner from vatozone. (If it can get on the converter gear, I don't know.)

 

[R413]

Take of the belt the spins the fan, then the fan will be still while you turn the crankshaft.

 

[Cranky]

I'm not a fan of turning the engine with TC bolts either.....

 

[Blue Brick]

Sounds like we’ve got a plan in place. What’s the torque spec for the crankshaft pulley bolts?

 

[6PKRTSE]

400 and air conditioning adds an extra belt grove to the pulley.

3 of my big block cars are A/C cars and I can turn them over from underneath by the crank bolt without removing the belts.

 

[Blue Brick]

3 of my big block cars are A/C cars and I can turn them over from underneath by the crank bolt without removing the belts.

What socket size and extension length are you using for this? I will certainly try it first.

 

[6PKRTSE]

What socket size and extension length are you using for this? I will certainly try it first.

I mentioned that already in an above post.