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Is it even possible to drop a manual tranny without removing the engine first? If so then how is it done? I've got an oil leak under the bellhousing and i really dont want to pull the motor again....
Yes, it can be done. I did it in an '81 without removing the engine or the exhaust system. It's not the easiest job you'll ever attempt, and you have to hold your mouth just right. The trick I found is that, once you have the trans out of the bellhousing and pushed back as far as it will go, tilt the engine backwards as you tilt the front of the tranny down to get the nose of the input shaft to clear the bottom of the bellhousing. Then tilt the engine forward to slide the trans down and out.
Thanks! That is good advice, i really really don't want to have to pull the motor again.
this may be a dumb question but i cannot seem to get the rear drive shaft off, any suggestions here? Until i get that off i can't move the tranny at all!
It's not too bad. The shifter and shifter bracket need to come out. Driveshaft too of course. Disconnect the trans from the bellhousing, slide it all the way back, rotate it just so and you can get it back far enough for the input shaft to clear the bellhousing. Tip the front down and out it comes. Took a couple hours to drop mine.