Thread: Out The Top or Through The Bottom

I have seen others drop their transmissions under a elm tree in their back yard while working on either card board or plywood. You can get the car up high enough...jack stands FTW. Its a shade tree mechanic thing, not just a Kansas thing.

If you don't have a engine holder, a cherry picker will work too. Just make sure it doesn't bleed down when its under a load, and slowly lowers the engine down. I clamp the hydraulic shaft regardless if its going to be loaded for a while, or mark it with a sharpie and see if its bleeding down and pump up till you see your mark again every once and a while.

~F~

I cant remember, I couple hundred maybe. Bought it through a local transmission supply shop here.

I know they are made in Texas, and set up a group buy on them once on "the other forum", direct from the manufacturer, but nobody was interested, so it flopped.

If you search on "the other forum" the info of where I bought mine locally, and who made it in Texas with all the names, addresses and phone numbers should still be there.

~F~

Scotty. any progress. take your time!!!!!

its just like doing the crank sensor..only bigger.....



YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Nah, no progress at this point. Its been two cold to do anything and Im focusing right now on getting back up transportation.

Ive located a 1995 Isuzu Rodeo, 5spd for a pretty good price. Just needs some tires in the near future, an alignment and the header collector gasket replaced. And I found a 1995 Dodge Intrepid which is in good shap and just had a new tranny put in it and is under warranty for the wife or a 1997 Dodge Neon which, according to the pictures, is in excellent shape though I have yet to look at it in person. But I had a neon not too long before I got the GTP and I actally liked the car. Its nothing like the GP but it made a really good commuter car.

And having transportation for the both of us would allow me to just take my time with the GTP and get things done right. And then when I get the GTP back on the road, I dont have to put all the miles on it and I can store it in the winter.

Anyway, thats where I stand.

Dumb question on my part, but could you not unbolt the tranny and drop that part through the bottom and just lift the engine out of the top to save from all the unbolting of all the other parts surrounding the engine?

Just curious..

I think with taking it out of the top, all you need to do is remove the hood struts from the frame or the hood and lay the hood back closer to the windshield to gain the clearance. Or would that bend or nick up the bottom of the back of the hood closest to the wipers? NOT that I am an expert or anything on that topic anyways.

James you can pull the whole thing out the top and dont have to unbolt anything except the AC compressor and the PS pump, I dont remove anything else unless the car has headers on it, otherwise I leave the manifolds on and just unbolt the downpipe. I have only had to unhook hood struts on some cars with fiberglass ram air hoods, otherwise I dont touch them and there is enough room to get the engine/trans out just fine. Once out it is a cake walk unbolting things out of the car.

Awh okies, that makes sense. I have never truly seen a whole engine removed. At least not in person mind you, so I was totally guessing. But that clears it up quite a bit!!

Oh I just sent you a PM as well about a question I had. I hope your box aint to full again

JCGT, thank you for the additional information. I wont have to remove the coil brackets as I have worm gear clamps on my hoses. I despise those OEM clamps and am quick to remove them. Plus I positioned them so I could get to them easily.

Im probably going to pull the harmonic balancer though as it will give me a little more room.

I updated my list too with the additional items you added. Thanks for that.

If you have the quick disconnect style trans cooler lines, I have to recommend that you get replacement spring clips for them. They're easy to bend out of shape, and honestly they were the only thing that held me up for a day when I put it all back together. The part number for them is: 24205103. Haha, I'm really chancing it now. This poor transmission of mine has been through hell. I recently changed out the 4th clutch shaft, and now I've got to do the differential. Hopefully it won't look too bad when I open it up.

If the ring gear is good, you are good to go I would assume. But I would post pics and see if you can get Trannymans input on it. You can get new differentials from him if needed.

Here are some pics I took of the last install that was done on Zach (shaferz)'s car. The engine support that I use is made by a company named PowerTrain and cost around $400. Unlike most all other supports this one swivels in about any direction imaginagle and uses pins and holes to adjust the length to prevent the bars from sliding around I made a few brackets that I bolt to the engine to hang it by. This brand support has won numorous Best Tool awards in the transmission industry and though it is pricey I like it better than any other supports that I have used. There is an attachment that I can buy similar to what Farns has, the leg that sticks forward and sits on the radiator support, but thus far have never needed it as it allows you to set up angles.

woowoo.

lol. How many more pics ya got Dave? Send more along if you have them!

Sorry zach that is all lol, well plus the other ones I already sent you!

Wait! Am I to understand correctly that you lifted the car only 18" off the ground and that was enough to clear the tranny through the bottom and under the car? So if you are taking just one (the tranny) drop it out the bottom, if you are taking both (engine and tranny) go out the top?

I also see you left one of the tires under the car. Thats smart right there, I have never thought of that before. Just in case all goes wrong.

You see it right Scotty, that is why I took the pics. You dont need much clearance to get the trans out of the bottom and I have been doing this for years. When the heat is on I can have a trans out of the car in 1.5 hours including dropping the pan and filter and cleaning out the cooler lines. BTW the tire isnt really for added protection though Im sure its a good failsafe, it just keeps extra clutter out of my way lol. I always put the wheels and cradle under the car so it doesnt eat up all my garage space while doing other work.

That sucks, I wish I could get mine out that fast. But that just further tells me you know exactly what you are doing (as if there was any question). Once I find transportation for the wife, I'll be all over trying to get mine out should it ever decide to warm up here.

I remember seeing pictures of that. If I had a forklift Id be all over that action, LOL.