Removing crank hub spacer

[Dunc the Funk]

My BBC has a steel crank hub with a large-flanged bolt. In front of that there is an aluminum spacer for the blower pulley to sit on. The bolt will not go through the outer part of the spacer bore where it steps down. So in order to remove the hub I need to remove the spacer which seems to be a press or interference fit on the hub. I've been thinking of applying heat with an electric heat gun to expand the aluminum and also fabricating some kind of 2 legged puller that will fit. Anyone got some tips on removing the spacer?

[denverflatheader]

Is it possible to use tap & die set to install threads in aluminum spacer, and then install bolt in new threads, and try slide hammer to loosen and remove?

[dreracecar]

should not be that much of a register,  you could try the old input bushing trick whereas you fill the hole with grease, and then use a close fitting dowel as the piston, smack the dowel into the grease and it hydolics the spacer out from the backside,  use a towel over the assy to keep the grease from shooting out when it releases

[Dunc the Funk]

Both those ideas could work. I guess I will try the grease first if I can figure out what to use for a dowel, maybe a large socket backwards.

On the other hand, if the hub is threaded I can do the same every time easily.

But as I have a cold & seeing as its around freezing now I probably won't be going out to the garage tonight, my heaters are not great.

[BK]

Can you get a socket on the bolt?
If you can and the bolt is long enough would the flange on the bolt remove the spacer as you back the bolt out?

[dreracecar]

When you do get the spacer off, chuck it in a lathe and turn a couple thou off the ID and/or machine a register to grab it with puller fingers

[Dunc the Funk]

Can you get a socket on the bolt?
If you can and the bolt is long enough would the flange on the bolt remove the spacer as you back the bolt out?

I think that is worth trying, socket does go on as I have turned motor over with it before.

[dreracecar]

Can you get a socket on the bolt?
If you can and the bolt is long enough would the flange on the bolt remove the spacer as you back the bolt out?

  How will that work if its just a bolt and washer, and not a specialty large-flanged bolt???

[BK]

Can you get a socket on the bolt?
If you can and the bolt is long enough would the flange on the bolt remove the spacer as you back the bolt out?

  How will that work if its just a bolt and washer, and not a specialty large-flanged bolt???

First sentence of his post said large flanged bolt.

[dreracecar]

Glossed over that part---thanx
 Maybe a picture from the front also would help

[Dunc the Funk]

Hope to get on to it tomorrow or over weekend. If I don't get it off I will post a pic from the front. I need to drain & remove the trans too so best do that first to enable holding the crank still while undoing the bolt.

[Dunc the Funk]

Well the bolt did not push the spacer off because it ran out of thread before the flange reached the spacer. Two legged puller won't fit as not enough space between bolt head & spacer.
Looks like 7/16" tap will do holes ok so I may be able to fab a puller tool, but I may give the grease/dowel a try first.

[Dunc the Funk]

Grease did not work, I guess its because the area under the front lip was not enough.
So I tapped 2 of the 3/8" holes to 7/16" UNF as I have good taper & bottom taps for that.
Then I fabbed a simple puller from some 1"x1" angle iron with a nut welded under the middle hole & it pulled off nicely.