Need to pull my transmission, Transmission Options

[Durus]

Hi guys! So I've come to the conclusion that I FINALLY need to swap out transmissions. (I have a replacement on blocks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

I've done a couple engine rebuilds but Ive never just swapped a transmission out without pulling the motor. First question...is it possible to just pull the tranny without dropping the motor? What are some things I should watch out for, and what is super important to replace while Im under the car and swapping trany's??

Thanks guys!
-Christopher

[Dave_Darling]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

If you use a hydraulic jack, be prepared to replace the motor mounts next. That's how I tore mine--pulled the transmission out, and figured it'd be OK to use a jack for "just a little while". The next morning, the jack was at its collapsed height, and the motor mounts were torn.

Remove the muffler. If you have a rear valance, you probably want to remove that as well. Loosen the motor mount bolts so that the whole drivetrain pivots more easily. Unhook all of the cables and wires from the trans, support the trans on a jack, then unbolt the rear mounts from the chassis. Lower the rear of the trans on your jack, then support the rear of the motor with a jack stand. Go back into the engine bay and remove the upper nuts/bolts holding the trans to the engine, remove the starter, then remove the lower two mount nuts. Pull the trans backward, away from the engine.

I actually don't use the jack after I support the rear of the engine; I'm strong enough to manhandle the 75 lbs of 901 gearbox without it. I just balance the trans on my knees and pull it back, then lower it onto my legs when it slides off the studs and out of the clutch. A more prudent person would probably keep the trans on the jack.

Installation is pretty much the same thing the other way--except that I do use the jack to hold the trans. And it can be challenging to get the input shaft splines to line up with the clutch disk splines; I put the trans in gear and rotate the output flanges to spin the input shaft until the splines line up.

--DD