All right. I'm about to pull my blown tranny and put in the new one. Any tips or tricks that I should be aware of? Or is it really straight forward on an '85? Thanks in advance!

 

Well do you have a lift?..........not needed but VERY nice. You will have to pull the torque arm out aand on mine it required pulling the driveshaft too............ at the same time.......... (yes I know ya have ta pull the shat to get the trans out) You should support the engine or at least remove the dist cap and rotor incase the engine drops when you pull the torque arm. The exhause has to come out ..........I did mine on a lift so I dropped the whole thing in one peice and lowered it with a tranny jack. Watch out for broken manifold studs (soak em real good with WD-40) use line wrenches on the trans cooler lines.......... don't forget to unhook the tv cable at the throttle body or it'll get REAL long on you............ the dust sheild under the flywheel will be a PITA ...... the first time requires pulling the starer too........ then when it is out take tin snips and trim the upper part of the sheild so it will go on with the starter already in place. this way you can put the starter right back. next time you won't need to pull the starter. I use a VERY long 3/8 drive extension to get to the top belhousing bolts so I can do 'em from the back .......this is when it's nice that the engine will tilt back a little for ya. There are some grounds up by the top bolts that you have to take care of (treat'em with respect) and going back together be sure to get 'em TIGHT........ other than that it's straight forward and I appologise for it not being in order ......... you'll see what I mean when ya get in there.........good luck Mike :seeya :cheers: