Auto trans swap in the driveway?

[ericsmith32]

Wanting to swap in the trans from the 97 Aspire into the Festiva. First time with auto transmissions but from what I've heard should easier to line up at least now the weight could be another issue. I've got alot of jackstands and one good floor jack, might be able to get another. Going to look at renting a trans jack. You guys think with a little help from the wife this would be doable? I have swapped B3's years ago but I had more tools back then! Have to do things the cheap way now.

[crazyrog17]

Totally doable. It might be best to lift it out from the top so you don't have to undo the cross member. If you have a chain hoist or a cherry picker it might make it easier.

[GenevaDirt]

should not need a trans jack. Just have to get the car high enough to get the tranny out from under it and still be safe.

I personally have just pulled the engine and trans at the same time and switched the tranny out of the car and put it back in. But you need a way to get the engine out and if using a cherry picker you will have to be able to roll it. I have a gravel drive and have used sheets of plywood to roll the left away from the car and back up to it when done.

[ericsmith32]

Wish I had access to a cherry picker! I sold mine about 5 years ago. I don't even have any tree's I could use. The whole engine and trans could be swapped then (prefer to hold out for a B8/BP though). I was thinking that I'd support the rear of the engine unbolt the cross member (that is if the bolts come loose) and unhook the trans supported by jack stands and jack... sounds easier than it probably is. Any one guess the weight of the trans?

[GenevaDirt]

Wish I had access to a cherry picker! I sold mine about 5 years ago. I don't even have any tree's I could use. The whole engine and trans could be swapped then (prefer to hold out for a B8/BP though). I was thinking that I'd support the rear of the engine unbolt the cross member (that is if the bolts come loose) and unhook the trans supported by jack stands and jack... sounds easier than it probably is. Any one guess the weight of the trans?

Tranny weight is not a big deal.....just clearance from underneath. If you were going to rent a tranny jack though...I bet they have cherry pickers too. I rented one this past summer.

[ericsmith32]

Where from? I looked at united rental (I think) and their website is dismal. I'll research more at work tomorrow.

[GenevaDirt]

Where from? I looked at united rental (I think) and their website is dismal. I'll research more at work tomorrow.

I would just call the place and ask...I had to. One guy had no clue they had them....another guy over heard him and chimed in, glad he did.

Cherry picker....engine hoist...engine lift.....lol...make them understand what you are looking for before you let them tell you no they do not have it.

[David88]

I removed an auto trans from a festiva from under the car with the engine remaining in. I will never do it again! I thought I'd save time not removing together but in the end it was more of a hassle and took a lot more cussing to get it done. It is possible but its hard to get the engine low enough to get the trans to clear the side sub frame.

[georgeb]

There's a thread on here for a auto-to-manual swap and he had to significantly lower the engine to remove the auto trans. Don't remember seeing anything about that in my manuals.

[David88]

Yes, I ended up removing the bolt from the passenger side upper mount and lowering the entire thing. Stretching hoses became a concern.

[ericsmith32]

Interesting one would of thought that at a quick glance it would of fit easily. Planning on swapping in the sway bar and radiator this weekend so I'll look at it closer. Sounds like I need to wait and do the engine and trans swap at the same time.. gotta find those pulley's though!

[Bert]

Aspire and Festy trannys are not identical. You will probably wind up fussing around with one tranny mount version or another. Don't know about autos but a Festy manual tranny can be held up with one hand.