Can I change the flywheel while parked on an incline?

[Paper]

Hi y'all. Ok, I removed a transmission from various cars like 3 times in my whole life, each time under really good conditions and with help. I'm interested in a buying a '92/auto/4.0 with a bad flywheel. But I'm not familiar with explorers at all. I found a rundown of the repair, and I'm comfortable with it, but the only place where I can do the job is in a driveway with a 30-35 degree incline (just enough to complicate things). How much trouble will I have getting the tranny back up in the air and realigned after changing the flywheel?

Thanks

 

[rookieshooter]

You say flywheel. Do you mean flexplate? What's wrong with it that you need to change it. I can understand a flywheel on a manual tran.

 

[Paper]

Maybe "starter ring" is a better word? Seems to have a chipped tooth, you have to spin the crank pully with a wrench to find a spot good enough for the starter to engage. (same problem with new starter)

edit: yes, I meant "flexplate"

 

[Heavymentill]

They do break.

I'd say it's not going to be easy lining up the torque converter bolts to the flex plate holes. Definitely not impossible.

 

[Paper]

Thanks for that photo. Answers why the seller couldn't find any broken teeth.

Any chance that a flexplate being run in that condition would damage the engine or transmission?

Thanks

 

[410Fortune]

the broken flex plate on the gen i trucks is quite common and the reason the part is $30 from Ford.
No reason it would cause other damage.

You can change that sucker with the truck upside odwn if you want, its all up to you

Stabbing an auto trans and getting the converter to line up with teh flexplate can be quite interesting when your working on a 35 degree driveway, but not impossible, heck I can do it in my sleep now, not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

 

[Paper]

I went back up there, and after a quite a few tries, we finally got it runnin'.

It started with a kerchunk, squealed like a stuck pig for about 15 seconds, and then came to a gasping halt. I believe you guys are right, and the flexplate is totally broken.

So, basically, since I can't tell if the engine is healthy enough for me to go through all the work, I passed on buying this one. The jy will pay more than I will.

Thanks, and see ya next time!