Benji17

Ok so I'm changing out my opti. I'm stuck on that last bolt that's right behind a pulley. I followed 1badzee's write up and it says to use a swivel tool. Well I tried that, but I guess it's not the right size or something?

If anyone could help me out, that would be fantastic. Thanks!

pkincy

iTrader: (1)

Take a picture of the bolt and its proximity to the pulley (post it if you want) but I would print that picture and take it to a closeby Sears and head for the Craftsmen tools section. I will bet one of the sales guys can hook you up.

My tool chest has grown from a small Craftsmen set bought 50 years ago to two 6 foot tall multidrawer cabinets with a lot of Craftsmen (and a lot of Snap On) simply because the next job I was doing worked better if I had another wrench/tool/??.

93Euphoria

IIRC its a 9/16’s or 7/16’s socket. Try a swivel extension if you have one. Try some BP blaster or a blow torch on the bolt then give it some elbow grease. Just make sure to replace the seals in the timing cover or else you’ll be leaking oil on the opti and you’ll have to do the whole thing all over again. Ask me how
Snap-On is the answer

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

All you need is a wobbly extension. The bolts are 9/16 or 14mm.

pkincy

iTrader: (1)

My wife keeps reminding me that I no longer know anything (she is generally correct) that I think I know, but I would swear that standard procedure for changing the Opti is grabbing every 13 and 15 mm socket and gear wrench I have plus a 10 mm for a few preliminary things.

Don't remember much of anything I could use English sockets for.

But than again I could be dreaming as it has been 10 years since I have changed an opti although I still have a pair of 93s.

Edit: my wife is again correct. Apparently the water pump bolts are 9/16ths, I suppose I am dreaming about pulling the front of the motor on one of the LS1/2/7 cars.

Benji17

Ya I've got the right size sockets and everything. I guess I should've said socket LENGTH. The swivel socket I got will go on, but there's not enough room to hook the wrench on. Maybe I can find a shorter length of swivel socket?

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

OR

https://ls1tech.com/forums/17733451-post4.html

Benji17

Hmmm...touche. haha. Ya I tried every size 9/16 socket I have, with and without my swivel, but to no avail -____-

Benji17

Dunno if it makes any difference, but 4 of the 5 bolts that I've gotten out, I had to use a torque wrench to get out. Dunno if that effects any use of the swivels or anything.

mab6680

iTrader: (1)

i just use a short socket on an extension no swivel. the deep socket hits the pulley and wont sit flat on the bolt. you could always take the pulley off if nothing else works.

Benji17

To take the pulley off, do I have to take off the whole assembly or can I use a pulley puller for it?

Spartan7

iTrader: (7)

Like mab, I just use a shorty socket and a regular extension. Just unbolt the PS pump from the accessory bracket and move it over a little, can't believe a water pump is winning here.

mab6680

iTrader: (1)

you might have to take the fans out (if not already out) to make room for the puller but it can be done in the car with no problem. when i changed my power steering pump the pulley wasn't lined up properly so i used the power steering pump pulley puller (say that 10 times fast...lol) in the car with no issues whats so ever.

Benji17

Well I got it guys. Just took a little bit of wiggling around. I feel like a dummy -___-

mab6680

iTrader: (1)

glad to hear it