Anybody have any tips for removing and replacing the flexplate on an 03 5.4 2v engine? Will I need a special tool to hold the crankshaft? The bolts are pretty rusty. I will be replacing the flexplate with an aftermarket replacement and the bolts with ARP's.

All help appreciated!

 

Well, after scouring some old forums and watching a handful of YouTube videos, I decided what to do. This post is to help anybody that comes across this, looking for an answer.

Since the engine is not in the truck, I had access to both the front and back of the engine.

I used an 18mm socket and breaker bar to hold the crank by the harmonic balancer bolt while i broke free the 8 flex plate bolts (can't remember what size, 15mm?).
Leave the uppermost bolt in while removing the rest of the bolts to prevent this sort of...falling action...

I was pleasantly surprised that the bolts broke free so easily, but the might have been the PB blaster