Trans removal in a j/y. Any tricks?

[stefan]

If i need to replace my tranny, ill need to pull myself a replacement at the j/y. At the most ill have a jack. Any tricks/recomendations?

[monkeyracing]

Undo every bolt that looks like it's holding the drivetrain in, raise the car over it, if possible, and roll it out. Or...undo anything that looks like it's holding the tranny in place, pray that your back is strong, bend over and hoist it up manually. My back is bad, so I'd stick to the first option.

[festivaWES]

Drop the cross member and sway bar to drop it under the car. bring your axel nut socket and the regular tools to remove it....17mm 14mm 12mm 10mm sockets and a rachet and a couple extension

[stefan]

ok, thanks for the suggestions. I think my best bet is to take it from under the car. Theres no way im strong enough to flip the car or lift it out from the top.

What dose the tranny weigh roughly anyways?

As for taking it from underneath, what's best? raise the engine with a jack to support it? can you go underneath and lower it out by hand or should a jack be used?

[juryrigger007]

Jack car up, and support with blocks (or whatever you can find). Support engine weight, from top of engine (I've used a 2x4,front-to-back, with strong wire) using the lift "ring" near the distributor. Then, after you drop crossmember/sway bar (like festivaWES mentioned), you can pull tranny, and leave engine hanging. Tranny is light enough to carry with one hand (be sure to remove the starter, to create carrying handle) You can stand over it (with all of the bolts, cable/wires etc. disconnected) and just rock it towards the driver's side. Then lower it to the ground. I did a quick swap once, and was able to leave the axles attached to the wheels (take the tie rod ends loose, and swing the whole thing out of your way).

Be careful, and good luck!

Cheers,

Scott

[festivaWES]

Yeah i did that too once with a tranny removal too...didn't even take off the axel stake nuts but removed the lower control arm, tie rod, sway bar and strut assembly. You dont even need to support the engine with your own tools. After you take out every bolt that holds the tranny to engine together before you removed the crossmember and swaybar jam a old wheel and tire of proper size under the oilpan. When I'm at the junkyard i dont care about anyother part on the car other than the one I'm taking.

[freshtiva]

If you pull the axles out be sure to stick in some differential plugs .

[stefan]

what should i use as diff plugs?

[freshtiva]

A couple of pieces of 3/4 inch wooden dowel rod about six inchs long is what Ive used before.

[smokin fastiva]

a battery powered impact gun will speed things up a lot. i had a tranny sittin on the ground in 45 minutes by myself

[elcamino1]

If you are at a self serve or pick n pull most don't allow jacks. stick two or three tires under the car befor you remove the last couple of bolts.
Festiva tranny are not that heavy so once on the tires drag out from under car then sit it on the ground.
For diff plugs I use a couple of rags stop gears from droping and stops oil from leaking all over the place.

[Damkid]

any of the trannies i've had out, i've never had to stick something into the diff. and never had a problem with the gears fallin out of place

[stefan]

If you are at a self serve or pick n pull most don't allow jacks.

i still know of 1 that allows jacks. but there usually pricey, if i can talk em down to $60 (the best price ive found, with 90 day warranty) then ill go there.