Transmition pull
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,435
Likes: 9
From: Kalamazoo Mi
Transmition pull
Ok here is the deal;
I am going to be putting in a shiftkit in my TH350c from transgo, and succumb to "snowball syndrome" and have decided to put a new torque converter. I am wondering exactly how to pull the transmition, i have the haynes manual, and frankely that sort of made it seem like a huge pita. Do i have to take the engine off its mounts to move it up? how easy is it do unbolt the tranny from the engine? am i goint to regret the hell out of this? and finaly; Is there some sort of majic tequnique that will allow me to replace the tc without pulling the tranny. Thanks,
Steve
I am going to be putting in a shiftkit in my TH350c from transgo, and succumb to "snowball syndrome" and have decided to put a new torque converter. I am wondering exactly how to pull the transmition, i have the haynes manual, and frankely that sort of made it seem like a huge pita. Do i have to take the engine off its mounts to move it up? how easy is it do unbolt the tranny from the engine? am i goint to regret the hell out of this? and finaly; Is there some sort of majic tequnique that will allow me to replace the tc without pulling the tranny. Thanks,
Steve
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 13
From: Kingman AZ
Do i have to take the engine off its mounts to move it up?
No
how easy is it do unbolt the tranny from the engine?
Not too bad
am i goint to regret the hell out of this?
Not if you meet your objectives. (although I may be wrong
)
and finaly; Is there some sort of majic tequnique that will allow me to replace the tc without pulling the tranny.
No magic
My suggestion would be to start diggin in that book. You'll need to remove the transmission completley from the engine to replace the torque converter for starters. Its bolted to the flywheel and the input shaft inserts into it from from the tranny Its going to involve removing the drive shaft, cross member (or at least the mount) and also supporting the engine. Removing shift linkage,coolant lines etc...but Im only an average mechanic, maybe a more experienced mechanic may have a better idea.
I cant touch on the transgo kit, never done one.
No
how easy is it do unbolt the tranny from the engine?
Not too bad
am i goint to regret the hell out of this?
Not if you meet your objectives. (although I may be wrong
) and finaly; Is there some sort of majic tequnique that will allow me to replace the tc without pulling the tranny.
No magic
My suggestion would be to start diggin in that book. You'll need to remove the transmission completley from the engine to replace the torque converter for starters. Its bolted to the flywheel and the input shaft inserts into it from from the tranny Its going to involve removing the drive shaft, cross member (or at least the mount) and also supporting the engine. Removing shift linkage,coolant lines etc...but Im only an average mechanic, maybe a more experienced mechanic may have a better idea.
I cant touch on the transgo kit, never done one.
Last edited by rayluka; Mar 1, 2008 at 04:07 AM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,435
Likes: 9
From: Kalamazoo Mi
hahaha alright, thanks, i just do not want to be "that guy", like my friend, he pulled the engine out of his TR7, and after that he decided to pull everything else off as well, he is now on year three of his build....
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 238
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
My friend and I drop my transmission from my 1980 L48 last July. He was the mechanic, but let me do everything so I could learn. It was actually fun to do.
I had it rebuilt by a professional and had a shift kit installed. LOVE IT!!!!!
We took out everything Rayluka said and we also had to remove the exhaust system for better access.
I put the car on four jack stands and we took the transmission out in about 3 hours. The worst part was taking everything off to get to the transmission. Taking the transmission out was only about 1/2 hour.
Getting to the top bolts was the only hard part. In order to get to the top bolts of the transmission we connected several universal joint adapters on the socket to reach them. They are very hard to get to without the right tool.
You will definitely need a separate jack to hold the engine or the weight will lower in the rear and destroy your distributor cap against your firewall.
I can send you pictures if you want, just send me your email.
Good luck and have fun, I did!!!!!
I had it rebuilt by a professional and had a shift kit installed. LOVE IT!!!!!
We took out everything Rayluka said and we also had to remove the exhaust system for better access.
I put the car on four jack stands and we took the transmission out in about 3 hours. The worst part was taking everything off to get to the transmission. Taking the transmission out was only about 1/2 hour.
Getting to the top bolts was the only hard part. In order to get to the top bolts of the transmission we connected several universal joint adapters on the socket to reach them. They are very hard to get to without the right tool.
You will definitely need a separate jack to hold the engine or the weight will lower in the rear and destroy your distributor cap against your firewall.
I can send you pictures if you want, just send me your email.
Good luck and have fun, I did!!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
My personal opinion (from the for-what-it's-worth department) would be to toss that Haynes book in the trash and get the real GM service manual- it has step-by-step directions with zero errors. and pictures drawings diagrams.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,921
Likes: 0
From: GA "When I grow up, I'm gonna get a Trans Am and run from the cops". Direct quote from my 4yo son.
I've done it on an '80 I used to own. It's not hard and for that matter not even all that time consuming. Just make sure you support the motor so you don't snap the distributor off because you will have to let the motor settle back some. When you put it in, just make sure the converter is seated right on the shaft or otherwise trouble will follow.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
My friend and I drop my transmission from my 1980 L48 last July. He was the mechanic, but let me do everything so I could learn. It was actually fun to do.
I had it rebuilt by a professional and had a shift kit installed. LOVE IT!!!!!
We took out everything Rayluka said and we also had to remove the exhaust system for better access.
I put the car on four jack stands and we took the transmission out in about 3 hours. The worst part was taking everything off to get to the transmission. Taking the transmission out was only about 1/2 hour.
Getting to the top bolts was the only hard part. In order to get to the top bolts of the transmission we connected several universal joint adapters on the socket to reach them. They are very hard to get to without the right tool.
You will definitely need a separate jack to hold the engine or the weight will lower in the rear and destroy your distributor cap against your firewall.
I can send you pictures if you want, just send me your email.
Good luck and have fun, I did!!!!!
I had it rebuilt by a professional and had a shift kit installed. LOVE IT!!!!!
We took out everything Rayluka said and we also had to remove the exhaust system for better access.
I put the car on four jack stands and we took the transmission out in about 3 hours. The worst part was taking everything off to get to the transmission. Taking the transmission out was only about 1/2 hour.
Getting to the top bolts was the only hard part. In order to get to the top bolts of the transmission we connected several universal joint adapters on the socket to reach them. They are very hard to get to without the right tool.
You will definitely need a separate jack to hold the engine or the weight will lower in the rear and destroy your distributor cap against your firewall.
I can send you pictures if you want, just send me your email.
Good luck and have fun, I did!!!!!
I have done them just this way. I also like to remove the distributor cap just incase it was to come in contact with something.
The long extentions and universals are the quick way to get the top bolts out. Break all of the bolts loose from the top before you angle the trans down. Once the trans is angled down in the rear you will have access with the extentions and universal/s
This is not a hard job and you will see that once you get started.
I also lift the tranny down on my chest and for install I get back on my chest and press it back up into place suporting the tail with my nees and have a friend or the wife install a side bolt to hold it.
This is were the wife learned lefty loosy; righty tighty
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