Tranny Removal

Jay Laifman (Jay_Laifman(at)countrywide.com)
Fri, 11 Dec 1998 08:22:17 -0800

A couple of years ago, I asked the same questions and did remove the transmission without pulling the engine. If I were to do it again, I'd just pull the dang engine. The only good thing about not pulling the engine was that I did not need an engine hoist. On the other hand, by the time you finish loosening or taking off everything you have to take off to allow the engine to rotate back, you are pretty much ready to pull the engine (see below). MOST IMPORTANTLY, I had one bitch of a time balancing the engine and the transmission both to pull back the transmission and then to try to line it up to put it back on without damaging the first motion shaft. And, I was very unhappy about how problematic it was to support the dangling engine and transmission.

After doing everything to rotate the engine, this is all that is left to go all the way and pull the engine: disconnect (1) the oil cooler, if fitted, (2) the oil pressure guage line, (3) the fuel line and (4) the wires to the alternator. Less than 5 minutes of time, yet it save you all sorts of grunts and snorts in dealing with a very heavy, oily transmission on a strange angle.

Now, if you insist on avoiding pulling the engine (as I did) here are a few other suggestions I got (and did) when I asked: (1) remove the radiator or take off the fan so that the fan does not rotate into the radiator, (2) if you just take off the fan, remove the hoses to the radiator because they WILL stop the engine from rotating enough, (3) disconnect the throttle mechanism (unless you have a cable set up), (4) loosen the front motor mounts so that all the twist does not come at the expense of the rubber (let it screw up the threads instead - ie a lose-lose situation), and (5) I found I had to remove the valve cover to get enough rotation for the tranny to clear.

Also, be very careful on supporting the rear of the engine. I'm not sure what to suggest. The rear of the oil pan is angled, so you really can't get a good spot for full support. And be darn sure you clean off any oil so that whatever you use doesn't just slip right off.

Now, are you sure you don't want to just pull the engine? Even now it sure sounds "easier" to not pull the engine. But, as I said, I think I'll pull the engine next time.

Jay