anyone know how to remove the crank dowel?

 

If I knew what that was I might be able to help.

 

the dowel on the crank that helps align the flexplate/shim

 

No problem. Grab hold, and turn the car upside down. Shake gently. Worked for me.


No, really, they are a press fit, at least every crankshaft alignment dowel I have seen. If you have the crankshaft out of the engine, you can use a press, or a cold chisel to hammer it out. If the crankshaft is still in the car, you will only be able to use a vice-grip to attempt to break it loose.
I suppose in the worst case, you could weld a 'head' onto the dowel that you could use with a slide hammer to pull the dowel out. You just need something to grab onto.
good luck with that
tom

 

ooooorrrrr.. an old rotary trick to get the little bearing out of the end, is.. seriously... take a paper towel, soak it in oil, or coolant. wad it up and shove in the hole. now get a steel dowel that will fit in the inside the bearing, we used a steel clutch alignment tool. and hit it with a hammer.. the paper towel has nowhere to go but hydraulically push the bearing out. works every time.. just a thought.

 

Jack Sparrow,
You are describing removing the pilot bearing from the center of the crankshaft. Used to fill the 'void' with grease, find a pilot shaft that fit pretty tight, insert, and whang away. Didn't know about the paper towel deal, but sounds like it would work for that too.
The dowel is actually a 'pin' that sticks out of the flat on the crankshaft, the surface that the flex plate or flywheel mounts up to, and ensures that the counterweights, if any, are in the right spot. Some vehicles need external balancing. It also helps to hold the flex plate or flywheel in place while you are starting to thread the retaining bolts.
tom

 

oh that little b@st@rd.. uh.. vise grips maybe???