Flexplate removal - is there a trick to it?

[bake315]

OK, so I'm definitely all in to this project now, since pulling both motor & tranny out yesterday.  I've separated the two, pulled the torque converter, and now I'm attempting to remove the flexplate from the crank.  I've removed all the bolts, but it doesn't want to budge.  It appears to be in excellent shape - no cracks that I can see.  I was thinking about just applying a little heat to it to see if it'd come off that way.  Any ideas?

[Stewart G Griffin]

Sorry i can't be too much of help, but i think what worked for me was to spray PB buster/liquid wrench etc. at the flange, tap with a hammer, wait, repeat as nessesary and eventually it came off.

[Lt.Del]

i would not apply heat...it most likely will warp the flexplate and cause a necessity to replace it.

Do you have a rubber mallet?  If not, take a small block of a scrap 2x4 or other similar piece of wood and simply tap it.  Remove the oil filter so that you have a place to tap the flexplate towards the rear.  Turn the crank so that you can tap at the entire flexplate. 

If that doesn't work, tap a little harder and repeat the eniter circumferance again.  If that doesn't work, crow bar and pry off and prepare to buy a new one....they are cheap...like $30. 

[bake315]

Well, it's off.  I ended up using some PB Blaster and a rawhide mallet, then just cranked it around, and finally it came loose.  Thanks, Stewart and Andy for the help!