Transaxle install help

[Flatsixhead]

Need some help guys... It's been a long road and I can't wait to get my car back on the road & track!!! New clutch, rebuilt torque tube and rebuilt transaxle. Been struggling with the trans install - I followed the instructions posted on Clarks Garage below but can't line up the clamping collar. So very close but after a few hours gave up and decided to hang the trans from the mount and line up the bell housing bolts - So far that's been elusive as well. Any tips?

Installation

Using a floor jack, raise the transaxle into position against the torque tube bellhousing.
Insert the shift linkage rod protective tube into the transaxle case. Ensure retainer is fully engaged into the case.
Guide the shift linkage rod back until it engages the transaxle intermediate shaft. Apply loctite to the shift rod retaining bolt. Install bolt and torque to 21 Nm (15 ft-lb). Lock the bolt in position with steel wire.
Through the access opening in the bottom of the transaxle case, slide the clamping collar into place over the drive shaft splines. Torque the Allen head retaining bolt to 80 Nm (58 ft-lb.)
Install the transasxle bell housing covers.
Install the transaxle support cross-member bolts (2 - M10). Torque the bolts to 46 Nm (34 ft-lb). Attach the fuel filter to the cross-member.
Install the transaxle case to torque tube bell housing nuts and bolts. The M12 fasteners are torqued to 85 Nm (62 ft-lb.) and M10 fasteners to 42 Nm (30 ft-lb).
On vehicles with electronic speedometers, plug in the speedometer sensor cable at the transaxle.
Connect the backup light wires near the top of the transaxle.
Connect the CV joints to the transaxle. Torque the CV joint bolts to 41 Nm (30 ft-lb).
Connect the shift linkage to the shift lever.
Reassemble shifter console.

[msailer]

Having just done this, I will tell you what I did.
I tried to follow the Clarks Garage instructions for a few hours and gave up too. There is no way you will ever get the shafts lined up, unless you are terribly lucky by their method. There has to be a ZERO degree difference between the two shafts in every direction for it to work. The tolerances are just too tight.

This is what I did. I bolted up the transaxle by the mounts to the body. That give you the safety margin in case the jack slides out from under the transaxle. The top two bolt holes on the transaxle has a collar ( see pix below) in it that must mate with the flange on the Torque tube housing. When these two collars slide into the torque tube housing, you will be able to slide the collar on the shaft with a screwdriver. You will need to turn the collar until you just feel it grab on the splines of the driveshaft and then leverage on with a screwdriver. After that, bolt everything up.

[msailer]

My old transaxle had this on only one side, so I don't know how they ever got it to line up. Good Luck. After that, it is a piece of cake to finish.

[rickharrison]

Make sure the clamping collar bolts are all the way out too. I did it similarly, and loosely bolted those on the bellhousing...you have to "jimmy" the clamping collar until it slides on...perhaps the torque tube shaft is misaligned, spin it to mate up...also add some anti-seize compound for lube.

[Slam]

I installed the coupler bolts last.

I agree that the two transmission mount bolts should go in first. That way the tranny can dangle from them while you're fighting to line it up with the bellhousing. Don't torque them, just snug them up so they'll bear the weight of the transmission.

[Flatsixhead]

2 more hours of fighting with the ******* collar on my back!!! I have completely lost my mind and it's 90 and sticky!! I put a few of the bell housing bolts in just to line it up and it looks dead on but no luck!! Going to rest for 20 minutes and then back out to the garage to continue the battle.. On a mission now!!

[Flatsixhead]

Still having issues - Please read Trans Install Take 2