Pulling the tranny and need some help..

[ProjectWE4]

Hey im pulling the tranny out since my new rebuilt one is on its way. Just wondering if anyone has any step by step instructions or have some diagrams to use to make it a little easier. Any help would be great. I would have a shop around here do it but they screwed over alot of things on my car, so now its time to do it myself. And now I just have to wait on my tranny from Performance Transmission from Las Vegas.

Thanks
chris

[TurboJim]

Eww, lets see....going from memory:

Jack car up and drain the trans, pull driveshaft. I think the strap bolts are 7/16. Pull the inspection cover and unbolt the converter. Sometimes its easier to pull the crossover pipe to do this. I usually dont. There are 2 9/16 bolts holding the crossover on each side. With the driveshaft out and converter unbolted, put a jack with trans adaptor (if you have one) inder the pan, unbolt the trans mount, then jack the trans up to the floorboard, remove the crossmember. The trans mount and crossover bolts are 15mm I believe. Trans mount might be 18mm, I dont remember. Anyway, once the crossmember is out, lower the trans a bit, remove the speedo cable by simply unscrewing it, pull the hitch pin for the linkage and let hang to the side, pull the shifter cable bracket and remove the shifter cable from the bellcrank. uncrew the cooler lines, use a 1/2" flare wrench to break them loos so you dont round them. Now lower the trans so its a little lower than the body. This will make getting to the top bellhousing bolts easier. Remove all but the 2 at the sides.jack the trans back up a little, put a jackstand under the oil pan, near the drainplug. Put a 2x4 on the jackstand head if you have one, and now lower the trans back down so the engine sits on the jackstand. Remove the 2 last bolts and give the trans a little jolt to the side to break it loose from the alignment pins. Carefully pull back around 1" and start lowering, watching for stuff catching as you lower. The trrans is somewhere around 150-175 pounds, so if you're not strong, I suggest having a helper. Once the jack is all the way down, see if you can pivot the trans on the tailhousing to get off the jack. Now slide from under the car. Install in reverse.

I never pulled one of these on my back, but on a lift with air I can have it out in 20-30 mins.

Shouldnt take you more than 1.5hrs on yer back. Just to give ya an idea how hard it is.

[Badinblack6]

I have a 2800 stall I want to put in, and have been putting it off outta fear, I've never pulled a tranny before. Great instructions Jim, it lessoned the fear a bit.

[jmidolo]

I've done this more times than I care to remember. Down to a science now, on my back, can have one out in 50 minutes!

I've never put a jack on the engine like that Jim...for trying to keep the angle?

You can get at all of the bellhousing bolts from the bottom w/a swivel head ratchet as long as you have a 2ft ext..I use a 2ft and a 16" on the end of that too. I use hand tools as it's easier and quicker.

Couple of other things. 10mm wrench will be for the bolt on the TV Cable that mounts near the cooler lines. I disconnect the tv cable from the throttle body to take the tension off it. When putting it back in, remember to slip the tvcable back onto the paper clip looking pin in the trans...This is easier done w/no tension on the cable which is why I disc' it.

Assuming this is a console shift car, you're gonna have the linkage cable/bracket on the drivers side. When you disconnect it, tuck it up, ontop of the trans out of the way. I've had the trans slip when coming down before and get hung up on this cable and end up breaking it. Sucks when it's a weekend and you'll not find one on the parts store shelf and it will piss ya off..been there done that. Also make sure your tranny lines are clear and not gonna hang up when you lower it. Try not to bend them as it only makes putting them back on all that more difficult.

Putting it back in, when you put the tc on the shaft pay attention to how far it goes on..you should feel 3 clicks as it goes on the shaft. you may have to rotate it a little and gently rock it side to side while pushing it in, but make sure you fell it click in 3 times.

Getting it back is is tough by yourself if you are using a floor jack for a few reasons...getting the angle is tough and balacing it with out it falling on you etc.. Make sure the car is high enough so you can get the trans in and out from under the car while on the jack or you'll have to bench the tranny onto the jack while on your back...w/a tc in it..it's heavy and awkward.

[Recklessrob]

I suggest having someone help. I had one fall on me when
I was installing it into a SBC S-10. I used a number of creative
expletives and summoned the powers of grayskull to get it off and
installed. If you can rent, borrow, or steal a transmission jack, it'll
make the job much easier. Also if you have a drive shaft loop, remove
it for more clearance when moving the transmission back.

[Intercooler]

A transmission jack is a real handy tool! If you can't spring for one of those they make a jack insert designed for transmissions for cheap. It is hard keeping it on the jack without one of these unless you have a helper!

[EvilGN]

I plan on doing one of these within the next couple weeks but it sounds like i will have a leg up with the use of a lift and trans jack....but good little tid bits about disconnecting items, and the series of events from start to finish...

[Quick Turbo V6]

Its a good idea to flush the cooler lines when you have it out. I blow :SHOCKED: about 20 psi of air thru them. Just make sure you have something on the other line to catch what comes out.

HTH,
Scott

[Recklessrob]

Its a good idea to flush the cooler lines when you have it out. I blow :SHOCKED: about 20 psi of air thru them. Just make sure you have something on the other line to catch what comes out.

HTH,
Scott

If you want to take that a step further, you can buy a special aerosol
for flushing the lines. It comes with a plastic hose and fitting that
threads on to one of your tranny lines. Press the top down, and your
good to go. I've seen them for sale at NAPA, but I'm sure most parts stores can get them.

[wicked6]

Excellent posts by Jim and Joe!! I R&R'd only a couple GN trannies, both times on my back, and both times it took about an hour, taking my time, and by myself.. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Along with the other suggestions above - if you DON'T have the driveshaft loop, now would be a good time to install one..