Help!
I'm trying to remove the engine from my truck (just got it, and the motor needs to come out). The I'm trying to remove the engine, but the starter is stuck, so I can't get it off to get the flywheel inspection cover off. Can I pull the motor anyway?

Thanks for the help!

 

You will not be able to pull the motor out of the truck, unless you pull the motor out with the transmission. The starter and all of the transmission bellhousing bolts, torque converter bolts , etc.. need to be removed to get the motor out by itself.

 

so much easier to pull the trans, and t-case(if applicable) with the motor. make sure you take the bumper off! it will make life much, much easier!

just got done swapping out a 318, for a 360. wasnt an easy feat with the bumper on.

 

Why cant you get them off? Stuck bolts? If so, try PB Blaster or if you have it laying around, use a 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone. Was working on some '32 Ford parts the other day, PB failed me, but the custom mix worked within minutes. Bolts backed right out.

 

The starter is most likely corroded to the top stud that holds the starter on, soak it with some flavor of penetrant oil (not wd40) then you are just going to have to work at getting it off.

 

Ok, thanks for the tips!

Yes, the starter is stuck to the transmission. Every bolt I've pulled off of the truck has either been rusted up, or seized up, I've got the bolt and nut holding the starter on off, still stuck, and I've tried everything but heat to get it off. I'll try that tomorrow, but I suspect I'll be pulling the engine and transmission out together. I've never done a transmission before. Does anyone have a link to a write-up that I could use for that?

If it helps, my truck is a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500, 5.9 Liter Magnum engine with 4x4.

 

Transmission? Third thread on the page you posted on: MonteC's Transmission Corner (For Info Only). Read that and download the service manual in the FAQ/DIY section. Post plenty of photos. Lots of members here have done the engines and trannys, so plenty of help here as well.

 

There was a member here about a year ago, he had to bust his starter to pieces before it would come off that top stud.

Just my 2c; pull the motor by itself much ezer, I have changed motors a few times in my truck and never once did I consider pulling the tranny out with the motor. If you go that route I think removing the t case first would be a big help.

 

Ok, i'll try destroying the starter today. it has a crack in it anyway.

 

x2 - I swapped the 5.9 motor in my '96 Ram 2500 4x4 truck a year or so ago (my truck was a snow plow truck, so the original motor was so rusty, it was almost impossible to work on) and for me, it's much easier to pull just the motor by itself. You are going to have to remove the starter anyway at some point, so might as well remove it now. I had an issue pulling my starter out once - ended up that I had not pulled the top starter bolt out (I had pulled a bellhousing bolt by mistake) and I ended up breaking the starter snout before I realized the top starter bolt was still in-place.