motor removal
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
You're going to have to get the front end up high enough to provide clearance for the tranny tail shaft when you start pulling.
Engine and tranny went in together as a unit on the assembly line with the distinct advantage of not having the body on the frame at the time.
FWIW: I dropped the tranny in my '68, then pulled the engine. Possibly extra work, but no clearance problems and it allowed me to have the front end on the ground.
Engine and tranny went in together as a unit on the assembly line with the distinct advantage of not having the body on the frame at the time.
FWIW: I dropped the tranny in my '68, then pulled the engine. Possibly extra work, but no clearance problems and it allowed me to have the front end on the ground.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 0
From: Beacon NY
I pulled my engine and tranny seperate, but from what I remember I don't think it would be a problem to do it as a single unit. Once the radiator and shrowd are out I don't think you would have an issue with room in the front of the engine compartment.
Once you start pulling the engine, I would think the weight of the tranny would tilt everything down and away from the radiator support as you continue to lift the engine up. The only problem might be the height of your garage or the limit of upward movement on your engine hoist. I hope that makes sense.
Once you start pulling the engine, I would think the weight of the tranny would tilt everything down and away from the radiator support as you continue to lift the engine up. The only problem might be the height of your garage or the limit of upward movement on your engine hoist. I hope that makes sense.
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.
Unless your trans needs work I'd leave it in the car. I pulled my motor without the trans and it came out just fine. I pulled the hood, but the radiator didn't even have to come out. If I had it to do over again, I still wouldn't pull the trans. I used a 2x4 and safety wire to hold up the trans. Look in my homepage photos under my screen name. I have a few pics there. Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 5
From: Paducah Ky
I pulled the eng and tranny together once. The engine has to be tilted up at a pretty extreme angle to miss the radiator support. I didn't attempt to put it back in that way for fear of tearing something up. If you are going to do it I would recommend removing the rad support for more clearance.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield PA
I have an 80 and I pulled both the same time. Other member's messages are all right. You have to have the head clearance because the car has to be pretty high fo the tail of the tranney to drop low enough. And you have to remove all the stuff up front, radiator, radiator supports, ect. If you are not rebuilding or replacing the tranny I would leave it, I pulled both because I rebuilt both.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
We did my 1980 a few months ago.. Trans was fine so it was left in the car. Completely removing the motor was very easy. It took just over 3 hours and not a scratch on the car! All the trans bolts were very easy to access.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I have done a number of them with the motor and tranny attached but I always always remove the rad support.
I also have a load leveler on the cherry picker and this allows you to control the tilt and ease everything in.
Since it is an automatic with a removable crossmember it would be no problem to remove this crossmember, put a jack under the tailstock and lower it down to make getting at the upper bellhousing bolts easy. Seperate the tranny and just drop it out the bottom.
It takes about an hour to pull a tranny. I use my 3 ton jack to support it while lowering it and sliding it out from under the car.
I also have a load leveler on the cherry picker and this allows you to control the tilt and ease everything in.
Since it is an automatic with a removable crossmember it would be no problem to remove this crossmember, put a jack under the tailstock and lower it down to make getting at the upper bellhousing bolts easy. Seperate the tranny and just drop it out the bottom.
It takes about an hour to pull a tranny. I use my 3 ton jack to support it while lowering it and sliding it out from under the car.
Last edited by norvalwilhelm; Oct 27, 2006 at 02:11 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,529
Likes: 27
From: Auburndale Florida
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'09
Originally Posted by norvalwilhelm
It takes about an hour to pull a tranny. I use my 3 ton jack to support it while lowering it and sliding it out from under the car.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
for reference i'm a little over 5' 8".....buy real jack stands like i have no need to be scared of those
and heres its going in
and heres its going in
Last edited by bobs77vet; Oct 27, 2006 at 10:24 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
Pulling them both is fairly easy and it is definitely the easiest way to put it back in. Just make sure to get an equalizer for the hoist, that way as you pull the engine and tranny you can adjust it to make it easier to tilt them both out. They run about $30 and well worth it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,529
Likes: 27
From: Auburndale Florida
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'09
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
for reference i'm a little over 5' 8".....buy real jack stands like i have no need to be scared of those
and heres its going in
and heres its going in
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
those are 6 ton jack stands.....from a tool supply store....and they cost me some $$$$ but even at full height they are rock solid...this is after the motor and trans are out s o i could pressure wash it
the hieght is about 18" with out the yellow middle section raised, normally when i use my 22" high jack i will get two clicks of height out of them before it hits the frame, this is not an area to skimp in
[IMG]
[/IMG]
the hieght is about 18" with out the yellow middle section raised, normally when i use my 22" high jack i will get two clicks of height out of them before it hits the frame, this is not an area to skimp in
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Last edited by bobs77vet; Oct 27, 2006 at 11:12 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,529
Likes: 27
From: Auburndale Florida
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'09
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
those are 6 ton jack stands.....from a tool supply store....and they cost me some $$$$ but even at full height they are rock solid...this is after the motor and trans are out s o i could pressure wash it
the hieght is about 18" with out the yellow middle section raised, normally when i use my 22" high jack i will get two clicks of height out of them before it hits the frame, this is not an area to skimp in
[IMG][/IMG]
the hieght is about 18" with out the yellow middle section raised, normally when i use my 22" high jack i will get two clicks of height out of them before it hits the frame, this is not an area to skimp in
[IMG]
[/IMG]So at 22" will the auto trans have enough clearance to slide out from under the car? Do you hae to remove the cross member?
Mark
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i used the long frame jack to get the car up high enough i'm not sure
22" will do it. i took the cross member out but we were going to put in the 700r4 so i had to take it out any way...i don't know if you can take it out with out removing the cross member....you can use 2X4s on the jack pad to lift the car higher if necessary
the problem is the method you use to drop it down will take up inches...i used the floor jack with a trans removal bracket and that takes up about 10"
22" will do it. i took the cross member out but we were going to put in the 700r4 so i had to take it out any way...i don't know if you can take it out with out removing the cross member....you can use 2X4s on the jack pad to lift the car higher if necessary
the problem is the method you use to drop it down will take up inches...i used the floor jack with a trans removal bracket and that takes up about 10"
Last edited by bobs77vet; Oct 28, 2006 at 09:37 AM.