My tranny is off and I'm just about ready to mount the engine to the stand but before I do I thought I shoudl remove the flywheel. But of course when I try to loosen the bolts the thing just spins around. How can I keep it from spinning while I loosen the bolts? Is an impact wrench the only way (which I don't have by the way)? Or on the other hand is it possible to completely disassemble the engine without taking it off first?? Or is it easier to remove if I go ahead and mount it to the stand first?
THX: Michael

Hi Michael - you can try and lock the flywheel teeth against the block with a large screwdriver/pry bar. You may need someone to keep that engaged. Make sure also that you still have spark plugs in and that you're at TDC as this will provide the most compression lock to assist you. Finally use a good strong ratchet on your flywheel bolts. Kick the handle down with a sharp stomp with the sole of your boot. This is normally enough to break them free.

I didn't even think about locking it with the flywheel teeth. Thanks! Since the head is off setting it at TDC won't help too much but hopefully I can do it without that extra bit.
michael

orrr you could get (or if you have) a socket big enough to fit over the crank pulley bolt and get another rachet or driver and stick it into that socket, get someone to hold it whilst you take the bolts out of the flywheel

orr you could take the sump off get a piece of wood, metal bar etc and put it between the crankshaft and the wall of the block, no matter which cylinder any will do the trick...

Dave

i just stuck a screwdriver steight through one of the bolt holes in the fly wheel and turned it till it was hard against the block which left both hands free to undo the fly wheel bolts.
i have done this many of times with no dramas

I ended up sticking a couple of long screws in two of the screw holes on the flywheel that the clutch was attached to, and wedged a piece of wood in to hold it in place against the frame rails. Also using a socket was very difficult and a regular wrench is impossible. I got a cheapo 45 degree offset wrench from the local auto parts store. I absolutely would not attempt this again without this tool. Thansk for all the help.
Michael

your bolts must have been super tight because i have had absalutly no trouble using an el'cheepo socket wrench

lol watch out for the flywheel coming through your floor if you can undo em that easy!!!!!

shouldnt be an easy job, are you using a torque wrench to do them up to spec rb20?

maby i am just super strong lol
even on all the v8s and sixes i have worked on and its been a lot i have never had any trouble with this