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| | | | Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 | Hello, I have been trying to separate my 1929 engine from its tranny for a while now. The clutch is frozen to the flywheel. I have been giving it a drenching of PB blaster every few months and then trying to separate them. No go so far. It has been about 2 years now. Any other ideas on how to break the rust? | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,904 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,904 | Heat on the flywheel with a propane torch? Expand it more than the clutch.
1948 3/4-Ton 5-Window Flatbed Chevrolet 34 Years. Now with a '61 261, 848 head, Rochester Monojet carb, SM420 4-speed, 4.10 rear, dual reservoir MC, Bendix up front, 235/85R16 tires, 12-volt w/alternator, electric wipers and a modern radio in the glove box.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 | Yes I have. My guess is that I am not doing it long enough. I think I need to bring up to near eye level to get a good look all round. Maybe even set up a vinegar drip to loosen up the rust. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 | If all of the bolts are out that hold the transmission to the bell housing the trans should slide out of the pilot bearing and clutch disc. Sounds like the splines are the issue not the clutch disc to flywheel. Mike B  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 | How would you heat up the splines? Open up the transmission and try to heat up the main shaft from that side? The transmission is very rusty inside and probably worthless. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 | There's no way to get heat on the splines. If the trans is trash and you don't care about it, then with the rear drive shaft disconnected and the bell housing unbolted I'd pry the two apart. There's a pot metal input shaft bearing retainer holding the input shaft in place that should break allowing the trans to be separated from the bell housing leaving the shaft and clutch still in place. It may take two men with something big like a digging/tunneling bar with lots of leverage working both sides at the same time to break it apart. Make sure you have the transmission supported from above so it doesn't crash down on you when it breaks free as nothing will be holding it up any longer. Be safe... Mike B | | | | | Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 1,966 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 1,966 | Is the engine-transmission assembly still in the truck? I think not from your comment about getting it to eye level. I’m not familiar with 29 engines but know a little about 216s and 235s. On them 2 trans bolts go from inside the bellhousing into the trans mounting ears. Is that a possibility here? Please forgive if that has been verified already. Good luck.
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| | | | | Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 | Yes the motor is out. It was actually in a Kelly truck frame. One of those vintage farm Frankenstein trucks made from 5 different vehicles. Erskine, Chevrolet, Dodge, Kelly and a unknow vehicle. Rather fun to take apart to see what was what. It had three different transmissions. It did have 2 trans bolts inside the bellhousing and they have been removed. Only thing I know of it can be is rust holding it in. I almost wish the motor was frozen so I could get a little resistance from the tranny to help break free the rust. Every time I rock the tranny it turns the motor. I am about ready to break up the tranny to get down the the input shaft. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | If it is truly a 1929 engine the bellhousing has to come off with the transmission. There are a number of bolts holding the transmission to the bellhousing that can only be accessed from the inside.
Does this have a stamped steel bellhousing, or a cast bellhousing?
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 | It is a cast bellhousing. Does that mean it is not a 1929? The original owner claimed it came out of a 1928 Chevrolet. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | 1931 was the first year for a cast iron bellhousing.
Can you find the engine casting number?
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 | Engine is 836409, E 25 1, 28 XX. Tran is 590281 | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 |
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 23 | Thanks for that information. Where does one find the information to figure out the date from casting numbers? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | 836409, E 25 1, 28 XX
E = 5 = March oops = May (thanks for the correction, Bobb)
25 = 25th day
1 = 1931 (base on the year of the casting code, 836409)
Maybe someone else can decode the 28 XX?
Last edited by tclederman; 11/22/2020 3:26 PM. Reason: Oops - error corrected (thanks to a PM from Bobb)
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