Cadillac Repair: 88 Cadillac Deville Flywheel, cadillac sedan deville, cadillac deville

Question
I have a 1988 Cadillac Sedan deville 4.5 ltr. front wheel drive. I was driving down the street when I heard something crack and the car came to a stop and it sounded like  metal tumbling. I asked a few people what it might be and they said it was the flywheel. The car still starts and when I put it gear it starts grinding. Could you give any help on steps to replace the flywheel?? Thank you

Answer
Million,
It's quite possible that the flywheel (actually called a flex-plate) has come apart. However, it's much more likely that it would crack at the crank bolt area and not the torque converter bots but like I said, "it's possible". If it is the flex-plate, the engine must be removed and the part changed. The part is cheap, it's the labor that kills you in a situation like this.