Transmission Removal Problems

[SLKWrx]

I'm at that point where I feel like I shouldn't be working on my own car anymore...

For a while now, I have been battling a bad set of synchros in my transmission. I have a spare that Dr. Evil completed just sitting here waiting to go in. I've followed all of the tech article steps for Clutch Replacement and got just to the point where you separate the Trans from the Engine. No joy over here. I feel like I'm so close, yet so far. Anyone have any words of wisdom? I can see the trans pivoting on the bolts and I'm trying to line it up, but any location try is just another stuck spot.

Thanks

[John Rogers]

Several questions: did you use an alignment tool when installing the clutch disc and pressure plate? If not then you do not have things lined up and need the spline tool. Is the transmission going in straight? If it is cocked any at all it will not go in. Is the starter on the transmission? If so the transmission will not go in. Did you check the grounds? This has nothing to do with the transmission but most of the "experts" on here ALWAYS say to check the grounds..........

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Even when the clutch is lined up, the splines on the input shaft can still be misaligned with the splines on the clutch disk. I have had luck putting the transmission in gear and grabbing both output flanges and turning them. That will turn the input shaft, and if that is the only thing that is off the trans will slide into place.

--DD

[SLKWrx]

Hey guys. You're all passed where I'm actually at. I haven't even been able to remove the existing trans. Should it come out easily once everything is unbolted? I have removed everything that was advised in the article, all trans bolts are off and the engine is supported. At the point where the instructions say to jack up the transmission and slide it out. Unless I'm missing the step of finding the power of grayskull, I can't figure out how to get enough leverage to actually remove the existing trans.

[Kevin Powers]

have you removed the starter?

[pcar916]

Silly question but (assuming the engine is still in the car) have you unbolted the ground strap above the transaxle? If it's not that, and nothing external is binding (like if it's out of the car already) then it's alignment or a rusty input shaft. I'd move the transaxle up and down/right and left until it comes back out of the pilot bearing.

Oh. Dave is right about the flange rotation. Don't forget that one!
Good luck!

[SLKWrx]

Thanks all! Got it finally. Took a little prying from the engine side and some of the sliding around like pcar suggested. Buttoning everything up and getting the top two bolts back in. I feel so much better now!