Ok, so I know we've all done something dumb at one point, so I thought I'd share.
Perhaps someone will learn from my mistake.
Back when I was troubleshooting my butterscotch '71 Dart I pulled the timing cover to check the timing chain. Turned out it was fine, it was apparently already replaced after it had skipped time and bent some valves (prior to me owning it, of course).
But I was working in the car, and when it came to reassembly I didn't have a crank damper installation tool. Its an auto, so after awhile the the transmission would just let the whole thing spin, and I couldn't get the damper seated all the way or the crank bolt torqued to spec. In a hurry to get things back together (NEVER be in a hurry
), I solved the problem by breaking out my air ratchet.
Just a bit of advice, not the right way to do things.
While it worked gangbusters at the time, I eventually figured out the cam was flat and the engine is now out of the car for a rebuild. Cut to removing the crank damper
. The bolt comes out about 2 turns and stops. And STOPS.
I've used breaker bars, air ratchets, heating it to a glowing cherry red (no, not re-using the damper either) and that sucker it stuck. The threads must have bottomed out in the crank and rolled the last thread right off the bolt. So, in order to take this whole thing apart I will be cutting the head off the bolt. And I don't have much hope that anyone will ever get that bolt out.
Not my first, and no doubt not my last, bonehead move. There's a want ad for a 318 crankshaft in the wanted section, in case any of you guys have an extra laying around. I know all you big block guys have a 318 in the corner you can't get rid of!
