Dropping tranny with engine - which end to unbolt first ?
 

Should I remove the transmission mount bolts first, or the engine mount bolts first?

Does it matter ?

Do I drop it a few inches, then pull it off the shift rod, or am
I missing something else ?

(I have everything disconnected, as far as I know!)

Thanks,

James

Okay, it really doesnt matter which you unbolt first because you should have the engine and trans balanced on the floor jack.

The drop should be done in steps, dropping it a little (maybe an inch) and then moving the engine back, dropping it a little to make room and then moving it back more. This may take a while but you want to pull the shift rod out carefully as not to damage or bend it. Mind the hoses, and connections to make sure that you didnt miss anything and watch out for the fan clearing the engine bay and it is also good to watch the axles so you dont hit or pull them with the drop.

BTW if this is your first drop, you probably dont have the car high enough. lol. Or at least that is what I have found. : ) And if this is true, find a friend with another floor jack and lift the car more. If thats not an option, remember you can always remove the rear bumper and that will make things considerably easier. Just a thought!

Oh, and good luck James!

Thanks for the advice and the wishes - I already removed the bumper just in case!

I hope I have it up high enough. I have about 30 inches clearance in the back, and I still have the front end up about 15 inches.

If noone hears from me again, assume it went bad :)

Thanks for the reply!

James

Be careful raising the front and the rear...I just dropped mine without raising the front. About 30 inches in the rear and you should be OK...

Well it's been almost six hours... should we send an ambulance? :)

Better get his IP...

Well I quite successfully unbolted all 4 points, and THOUGHT I had it well balanced. I dropped it about 6 inches and realized the transmission and the shift rod were heading for the ceiling, meaning my jack was not at that balance point at all.

It was late in the day and I decided that I would recenter the jack and try it again the next day. Went straight to bed :)

So I suppose it didn't end THAT poorly. But soon, I should have it out!

James

James,

If it's not too late I'll lend you my engine/ transmission jack tool. It's great. You can use it to install if need be. I'm in Carrollton.

Well it's not too late. I can't get it all rebuilt before this coming Sunday (next Autocross at Pennington), and our next event after this is in August.

I decided to put the engine and tranny back up in and bolt it down so I could reorganize my efforts.

My biggest problem is my jack only goes up 18". So I have to do a couple of steps to get everything lowered, and I don't have
enough jack stands and soforth to support it in the middle.

Still have some ciphering to do before it comes all the way out.

I would love to borrow anything that will help get it down. I have the stuff to build a nice dolly once I figure out what it should look like.

I live over in Valley Ranch...

Thanks,

James (PM or email me if you want to keep personal info off the web)

I have to go out to Beltline and 635 to get something from my wife today.

PM coming your way.

I just e-mailed you at the address you have on the newsletter.

Side note...be careful you don't bump (or bang) or rest the shift rod on the tunnel when you go out or in. I've taken my (or my dad's) engine out probably a dozen or more times and the one time I did that it marred the trans. seal for the rod and it started to leak (AFTER I had the engine back in of course).

James -

Ed Hughes (Maverick member) has been through an engine drop. You might reach out to him for some help. Knowing Ed, I'm sure he would be happy to lend a hand.

Rob

James, could you tell us how to balance the engine/tranny? I am thinking of doing what you are doing this summer.

James,

Cell's back in posession! Call me after lunch at some point.