Pulling 4spd in 74 need some tips
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 2
From: New Castle DE
Pulling 4spd in 74 need some tips
Ok got to finally get under the car and use the kwik lift. This is my first time pulling a transmission out of a car without my gearhead buddy around. Are there any good manuals with pictures and step by step? Anyone have any tips on trouble areas i need to watch out for?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: GA "When I grow up, I'm gonna get a Trans Am and run from the cops". Direct quote from my 4yo son.
Does your car have a removable cross member or is it welded. If it's welded...outside my area of expertise. If crossmember removes, easy money. Remove your drive shaft from the transmission yoke and move it to the side. Remove shifter handle on inside. Support your engine with a jack, I always remove the distributor in case the motor comes to close to the firewall. Make sure before you remove the dist the motor is a TDC. Makes the dist easier to go back in. Remove your speedo cable. Some (or all) of your exhaust may have to be moved out of the way. Easy enough to remove either way. With the engine supported remove the crossmember. Loosen the 4 bolts holding to the bellhousing, slide the trans back and out. I sort of bench press it out. If you think it's too heavy a trans or ATV jack works great. You may have to downjack the motor some to get things to clear. That's about it in a nutshell.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 713
Likes: 1
From: plymouth mass
I believe only auto cars have the removable cross member. With that said the trans will still come out pretty easy. Mine has a Hurst shifter so I had to remove that, remove the drive shaft and the exhaust then just slide it back, tip it down and drop it out. If you have the car high enough you can bench press it down to your body then slide out with it sitting on your body. Good Luck!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 416
Likes: 40
From: Swansea IL
Exhaust
The fun part is removing the exhaust. Put the PB blaster on those head pipe to manifold nuts a couple of days before. THat way, you have a better chance of NOT snapping off the studs in the manifold. That really sucks.
Good luck.
Bob
Good luck.
Bob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Do yourself a favor and install some set screws and locktite them in to use as studs, then use nuts to hold the transmission tight to the bellhousing. The benefit to this is that it helps hold the transmission in place when you're under there be yourself 
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,438
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From: Florissant MO
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 2
From: Sherwood Park AB
It sounds pretty easy, but I had problems on my 78... Replace the clutch if it looks questionable and make sure the flywheel is correctly indexed so you don't push the dowel into the block. (Imagine my frustration when I tried to start it up...)
Of course the driveshaft, linkages, and exhaust have to be removed. The entire shifter and bracket had to come out so the tranny could move back enough. The bellhousing had to be separated from the tranny and the engine. Somehow with rotating, moving, and swearing, the tranny can be removed without lifting the engine. I would guess a 4 speed weighs about 70 lbs.
If you are painting the tranny, wrap it in cloths or cardboard to protect the paint when you are putting it back in.
Of course the driveshaft, linkages, and exhaust have to be removed. The entire shifter and bracket had to come out so the tranny could move back enough. The bellhousing had to be separated from the tranny and the engine. Somehow with rotating, moving, and swearing, the tranny can be removed without lifting the engine. I would guess a 4 speed weighs about 70 lbs.
If you are painting the tranny, wrap it in cloths or cardboard to protect the paint when you are putting it back in.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 2
From: New Castle DE
thanks guys i will be messing with it this weekend. Luckily the exhaust shouldn't be an issue since the recent addition of side pipes 
I have the Hurst shifter as well and have read that the entire assembly should be removed before trying to pull the tranny out. I was planning to buy a new clutch and everything figured while i have it out might as well do it instead of having to redo the job later.
I have the Hurst shifter as well and have read that the entire assembly should be removed before trying to pull the tranny out. I was planning to buy a new clutch and everything figured while i have it out might as well do it instead of having to redo the job later.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 2
From: New Castle DE
Just a note of thanks to everyone. Pulled the tranny out tonight and went very smoothly unlike most times i work on cars lol. Took my time and it only took about 2 hours. Must say the Kwik lift was worth every penny. Made everything nice and easy to get to without worrying about the car crushing me. Now its off to the trans shop to have her checked out and rebuilt.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 2
From: New Castle DE
Well car is back together just got back from my test drive. Except for a little scare after putting the shifter linkage for reverse on backwards 
she is running again. Ed Hartnett rebuilt the tranny and did a great job. Tranny shifts better then it did when i got it. Nice and smooth feels really good. Now on to the rest of the winter projects i had lined up
she is running again. Ed Hartnett rebuilt the tranny and did a great job. Tranny shifts better then it did when i got it. Nice and smooth feels really good. Now on to the rest of the winter projects i had lined up