Bell Housing Inspection Plate

[cork379]

I had a new gear reduction starter break up and had to remove the inspection plate to retrieve some of the pieces. For some reason the plate will not go back on. If I get one side lined up the other side will not go far up enough to put the bolt in. Is there a slot of some kind that it needs to go into? The engine is a 1987 454 Crusader.

 

[diver_dave]

Yes, it may be tough will the bellhousing fully tightened.

 

[cork379]

If I loosen the bell housing bolts will that help? I really dont want to pull the transmission.

 

[diver_dave]

If we are talking about the flat steel sheet semicircle, did it come off easily? In any case, loosening up the bellhousing a bit may help. Or, I suppose leaving it off won't hurt anything. If no hoses are nearby, it is no worse a hazard than the spinning shaft or belts up front.