Is my flywheel on backwards?

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

70 472 DeVille. Trying like hell to pull the pan. No luck. I have raises the engine 2-3 inches and still can't get the thing off. The ears of the pan keep catching on the inner lip of the flywheel.
Book says you don't have to lift the engine but others recommend lifting it just a bit. I have 3 2x4'S under the balancer/pulley and I still can't get the thing off.
The other side of the flywheel is smooth so I am wondering if mine is on backwards. It was rebuilt with "issues."
Will probably leak now--shoot
Jeff

[Steve Passmore]

I don't know anything about your engine Jeff but I have never known a car where the flywheel could be attached backwards. I have known several engines where the crank has to be in the correct position to allow the pan to come off though. It could just be a big end needs to be turned to allow the pan to move forward enough and sometimes the tie rod has to be dropped. Make sure your blocks of wood aren't stopping it at the front as well.

[SixDucks]

HI Jeff,

If the ring gear on the flexplate is offset it would be unlikely that the starter would engage the teeth on the ring gear. Is your flexplate stock or aftermarket?

Terry

[Scot Minesinger]

Jeff,

Here is a picture of my engine before it went back, your flywheel looks like it is installed in the correct orientation - check it out.  As others wrote, unlikely to be even able to be installed backwards, as starter and other items would cause major problems.  Don't understand why your pan will not move a slight bit forward to avoid the lip on flywheel?  When I have taken these off, this was never an issue (done three of them), and so it is difficult to answer your question. 

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Jeff
If you have the  crank turned "flat" I might suggest loons ing up the trans mount bolts.
Greg Surfas