AusTexRex

Go to the gym. I used a breaker bar fitted onto the main pulley and braced against the chassis, and then just used a breaker bar fit right onto the nut. Got under the car, set myself up and benched as hard as I could.
Busted my knuckle a little bit when it broke free, but I no bleeding, I get worse than that just trying to take the exhaust or even the UIM off sometimes.

Fitting the nut back on I used an impact that my friend brought over. I had borrowed his air compressor to port my TB and some other stuff.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

For keeping the flywheel from turning, get a short length of chain - I typically just use the chain I had on the engine hoist for pulling the engine. Bolt the chain to the rear iron with one of the tranny bolts and to the flywheel with one of the pressure plate bolts. Super easy, and unless you have some crap chain you're in business. I do recommend getting some bolts from the hardware store to attach the chain with - it's very easy to bend or damage the threads on the bolt, and I'd rather mess up a cheapie bolt than the original Mazda bolt.

BTW, I typically take the oil pan and oil level pickup off the motor to make the motor "flat". Chain the flywheel up, remove the front pully bolt, then the flywheel nut. Usually my impact gun zaps the flywheel nut off no sweat, but the front pulley bolt needs some SERIOUS power to remove it. I usually end up with a breaker bar on the front pulley and jumping on it .

Dale

OverDriven

Yeah the front pulley was a load of fun. That thing is only supposed to be torqued to 90 ft/lbs max, but theres locktite on it. I too had to jump on a 2 foot breaker bar several times. I weigh only 165, but thats 330 ft/lbs of torque I was putting on that bolt BEFORE I even jumped up and down.

-Joe

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

One of my customers services big rigs. They have an impact wrench with a 1" drive that does something like 2500 Ft-LBS. Occasionally, I have had to take an engine there to remove the front hub bolt. Only takes about half a second though...

85TIIDEVIL

iTrader: (2)

I was told that jumping on the front bolt or any sudden impact with big leverage can damage the eccentric shaft.

Dan H

Flywheel nut, piece of cake. The front e-shaft bolt is a different story.

One of my engine's bolt was so tight, it took a 3/4 drive, 1300lbs torque impact wrench to break it loose. And it didn't even loosen up on the first try. It took a few more hits until it finally broke loose.

The Wankler

iTrader: (14)

I used the Racing Beat bar package, works like a charm, even for the e-shaft bolt.

capn

i actually used the flywheel nut to my advantage for the E-shaft bolt, i held the flywheel nut down with my breaker bar and my buddy turned the E-shaft bolt off. too bad it doesn't wor the other way around.


but i really need to get an impact or a flywheel stop

bingoboy

i had one that i couldn't get off, even with a 450lb impact wrench. i put a torch to it for a few mintues to heat it up (like a cheapo propane/butane torch not a cutting torch) and an impact took it off in one quick wizz.