Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual page 1271

9 - 48 ENGINE - 3.7L
CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL - REAR (Continued)
(3) Using Special Tools 8349 Crankshaft Rear Oil
Seal Installer and C-4171 Driver Handle (Fig. 42),
with a hammer, tap the seal into place. Continue to
tap on the driver handle until the seal installer seats
against the cylinder block crankshaft bore.
Fig. 42 Crankshaft Rear Oil Seal Installation
1 - REAR CRANKSHAFT SEAL
2 - SPECIAL TOOL 8349-1 INSTALLER
3 - SPECIAL TOOL C-4171 HANDLE
(4) Install the flexplate.
(5) Install the transmission.
FLEX PLATE
REMOVAL
(1) Remove the transmission.
(2) Remove the bolts and flexplate.
INSTALLATION
(1) Position the flexplate onto the crankshaft and
install the bolts hand tight.
(2) Tighten the flexplate retaining bolts to 95 N·m
(70 ft. lbs.) in the sequence shown (Fig. 43).
(3) Install the transmission.
PISTON & CONNECTING ROD
DESCRIPTION
CAUTION: Do not use a metal stamp to mark con-
necting rods as damage may result, instead use ink
or a scratch awl.
Fig. 43 Flexplate Tightening Sequence
1 - FLEXPLATE
The pistons are made of a high strength aluminum
alloy. The connecting rods are made of forged pow-
dered metal, with a "fractured cap" design. A full
floating piston pin is used to attach the piston to the
connecting rod (Fig. 44).
Fig. 44 PISTON AND ROD ASSEMBLY
1 - CONNECTING ROD
2 - PISTON
3 - PISTON PIN
4 - OIL SLINGER SLOT
DR