OK, I have a '58 Cadillac 365 that has been mated to a '54 Cadillac Hydra. I went to seperate the two yesterday so I can start rebuilding the 365. Motor is supported by my hoist. Made a ****** cart for the hydra which I rolled under to support when they came apart. Removed all 5/8 head bolts that run along the top edge of the bellhousing and all 1/2 head bolts that run under the bottom edge (accessed from the motor side) After removing all bolts I still cant get the motor and ****** to seperate. I got as much as a 1/4 to 1/2 gap between the motor and bell housing but it just wont let go. Ive never expeirineced this before. Can anyone provide me advise before I break the bellhousing trying to pry these apart? Thanks Hambers
I dunno if it's the same thing, but I had a similar problem on an O/T truck recently. Turned out I forgot to pull off the flexplate cover.
theirs a ton of small bolts holding the torus to the flexplate. i think its like 32 or something goofy- it is not like a typical turbo 350- thats not a torque converter that just slips off. search for some images of the hydramatic and you will see. good luck
Full of oil, be prepared to drain 7/8 qt's, 1/8" drain plug on the housing have to rotate fly wheel to find.
After you drain the oil from the torus cover remove the bolts holding the torus cover to the flywheel. There are also two alignment dowels that may be a tight fit. You may have to pry a little bit to get them to come out. When the torus cover is free you need to slide the trans back a bit because it has an input shaft similar to a standard transmission. Then lower it down.
The alignment dowels are different (barely) diameters. Mark the torus and flywheel(flexplate) before separating. You don't want to put it back together with them in the wrong place as you will warp the torus cover and have the mother of all leaks.
The Jalopy Journal
