First time Tranny Drop ANY suggestions???

[Ed]

If you don't have one I would suggest getting or renting an impact gun to remove the flywheel bolts. Why remove the flywheel you ask? Because when you remove the pressure plate and clutch you will notice that it has an uneven surface or maybe even some surface cracks. You will want to take it and have it resurfaced and for that you will need an impact gun to remove the bolts. If the surface of the flywheel looks good then your in luck. Go play the lotto. Don't get discouraged, remember it's a learning experiance. My first clutch took about 10 hours to do. Now I can do it in 4.

[hls30.com]

Harbor freight has an adaptor to allow any saddle based jack(with a 1" centering safety pin) to do double duty as a tranny jack for about $50. Their tranny jack is about $120.

Will

[Bambikiller240]

Tranny jack is definitely the way to go if you don't have a header to get in the way. I am surprised that Michael had such bad luck in finding on in Dallas. All of the General Equipment Rental yards around my town have them. Usually each yard has several. Last time i got one I paid $15 for 4 hours. I only needed it for an hour, but it was well worth the expense. I'm too old to be mucking about with that trans on my chest. BTDT, too many times when I was younger. ENOUGH!

If you don't have an impact gun, you can take an allen wrench and slide it into one of the holes in the block that the trans bolts go into, turn the short end of the allen so that it engages the ring gear teeth of the flywheel. This will lock the flywheel in place preventing it from rotating. Then you just use your normal 1/2 breaker bar to loosen the bolts.

Alternatively, you can secure a chain to the pressure plate mounts on the flywheel, then attach the other end of the chain to one of the trans mount bolts, threaded into the block.

[george71z]

I just bought a Harbor Freight tranny jack (the rolling scissor jack style) for $49. I also have the adapter for the floor jack. That puppy is way too high when its on the jack. Your car has to be about 2' in the air. I also agree that the #1 step is drain the tranny first. I had the trans on my 1200 dump on my chest when I pulled the driveshaft during my first clutch job.

[Bruskiz]

Here is a tip that will save you alot of time and I don't think it was mentioned. Take one of the bolts that holds the bell housing to the block, go to hardware store and get two 3-4" long bolts the same size. Cut the head off these bolts and then screw these bolts into the block along the bottom on each side before raising the transmission. The bolts act as guides and help line up the transmission to the block. Once aligned, secure the bellhousing and remove your guide bolts. Makes it alot easier.

[Victor Laury]

Here is a tip - snip - The bolts act as guides and help line up the transmission to the block. - snip - Makes it alot easier.

Good one! A keeper! Excellent! Gotta add this one to my "Bag O Tricks"

[mperdue]

I just bought a Harbor Freight tranny jack (the rolling scissor jack style) for $49. I also have the adapter for the floor jack. That puppy is way too high when its on the jack. Your car has to be about 2' in the air. I also agree that the #1 step is drain the tranny first. I had the trans on my 1200 dump on my chest when I pulled the driveshaft during my first clutch job.

You're right - not a bad deal: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39178

[MikeW]

Take one of the bolts that holds the bell housing to the block, go to hardware store and get two 3-4" long bolts the same size. Cut the head off these bolts and then screw these bolts into the block along the bottom on each side before raising the transmission. The bolts act as guides and help line up the transmission to the block. Once aligned, secure the bellhousing and remove your guide bolts. Makes it alot easier.

Do you grid flat spots on these bolts to make removal easier? Otherwise you'd have to use vise grips on the threads themselves ...

[Bambikiller240]

Do you grid flat spots on these bolts to make removal easier? Otherwise you'd have to use vise grips on the threads themselves ...

I have done this using old head bolts to make guide pins for trans install.

Cut the head off of each bolt, then cut a vertical slot into the top of each bolt (which now resembles a stud) and you can then use a large screw driver to install/remove the bolts/guide pins.

[Bruskiz]

You'll find that most of the bolts that are 3-4" long will only have about 1" of thread and none of the threads will be visible once the bell housing is on. Only need to thread them in enough to keep the bolts connected to the block, they don't need to go all the way in, after all there only there to help guide the transmission. Should be able to get out with fingers, if you need to use vise grips go ahead, what else do plan on using these bolts for once the heads are cut off!