One man job? Removing and replacing transmission

[ta240]

The FSM makes a note of removing/breaking the carb linkage before lowering the transmission. Easy to overlook! All the steps in the FSM are straightfoward and easy to follow.

Jim

that is one I'd have overlooked. That and that I think I have a FSM on CD somewhere too, forgot all about that. All the regular jobs on the Z I've done so many times I forget about things like that for the less often stuff.

thanks!

Trevor

[hogie]

You can get a harbor freight transmission jack like the one in Zedyone's pic for pretty cheap. Especially if you get a 20% off coupon in the sunday paper. That puts it around $68. I have used the crap out of mine so far. This one drops pretty low so you don't have to have the car on extremely tall jack stands to get clearance.

http://www.harborfreight.com/450-lb-capacity-transmission-jack-39178.html

[cygnusx1]

Bench-pressing a tranny while under the car is the only weight-training I do...

...and working under an S30 dashboard is the only Yoga I do.

[preith]

You can get a harbor freight transmission jack like the one in Zedyone's pic for pretty cheap. Especially if you get a 20% off coupon in the sunday paper. That puts it around $68. I have used the crap out of mine so far. This one drops pretty low so you don't have to have the car on extremely tall jack stands to get clearance.

http://www.harborfreight.com/450-lb-capacity-transmission-jack-39178.html

I picked up the same one for my Powerstroke - at 175 pounds I wasn't going attempt to bench press that transmission. It was a godsend, trans slid in and out like butter, my first thought, "why didn't I get this along time ago for the Z?!"

[tlorber]

These trannies only weigh around 60-70 lbs. I would have a few extra pieces of 4x4 under the car while you are there, because you WILL need to adjust height while you are engaging the input shaft with the crank. If you have a radiator shroud you may want to take it off. As stated above, you need to support the rear of the motor with a jack and you will need to adjust the jack at times to change the inclination of the motor for alignment. When you do this, the fan can hit the shroud, and possibly the radiator. Keep an eye on the area up front as you adjust the jack.

I paid around $150.00 for the clutch disk, pressure plate, throwout bearing and alignment tool. You can decide whether its worth it or not to replace these depending upon the condition of the existing one.

[grantf]

Two things I have done that helped without a trany jack are: you can support the rear of the trany with a strap and a pipe or wood block through the shifter hole and using a jack to lift the rear of the engine to help align it to the transmission when reinstalling it.

[ta240]

I paid around $150.00 for the clutch disk, pressure plate, throwout bearing and alignment tool. You can decide whether its worth it or not to replace these depending upon the condition of the existing one.

I saw where the aftermarket ones weren't too bad, but I wasn't sure if that was an item that I'd just be asking for trouble if I didn't stick with Nissan parts.

[preith]

At 70 lbs, yes an average guy can lift one relatively easy, but it's the jack's ability for finite adjustment and movement (more the floor jack model too) while suspended which makes it so valuable - all 4 casters pivot, height & angle adjust-ability, you won't be disappointed. At $70 it sure saves a lot of cussing.

Edited September 17, 2011 by preith

[ta240]

It is done!!!

Thanks to everyone for all the tips.

Found a $50 off and free shipping at Advanced Auto Parts online site for a beck/arnley clutch set and replaced the rear main seal while I was in there, new front and rear seals on the transmission and the axle seals on the diff also replaced and the seal on the fuel sending unit.

Everything actually went back together easier than it came apart, which is a first.

Trevor

http://240Z.me

Edited October 3, 2011 by ta240

[Zedyone_kenobi]

Congrats on a great job!

[ggunder]

I am going to do the same job and bought a scissors-style transmission jack from Harbor Freight. With the transmission strapped onto the jack it is 22 inches tall! I have some 24-inch tall Jackstands and some other smaller ones too. Any suggestion for the best location for the jack stands for this project, or do I need some timbers also?

Thanks for your suggestions, Gary

[cygnusx1]

I did it myself just yesterday. Took me about 4 hours. My arms and shoulders are sore today (I am no weight lifter). I was using a regular floor jack, pumping it up with my leg and guiding the trans with both arms. Laying on the cold floor was no fun.