Can't Get 5 Speed Trans Out
 

Can anyone please help, I am trying to remove A five speed transmission from an 83 944. I believe I have everything completed to remove it but I cannot get the transmission separated all of the way from the bell housing on the torque tube. I have the shifter rod completely removed and the transmission separated about 3 inches but it just won't seem to let go. I did remove the 2 8 mm coupling bolts. It just won't come loose, any ideas?

Did you slide the link / coupler the right way?

Also, the easiest way to remove the trans, in my opinion, is to remove it with the cross member.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/pdf-manual/trans-03.pdf

You may have pulled the drive shaft in the torque tube out some if the coupler was not slid towards the transaxle before you started pulling.

Things should come apart pretty easily if done right...

When I removed the two 8 mm hex head bolts from the coupler nothing came loose, could this be the issue? I tried spreading the cut/separation slightly with a large screwdriver on about my 30th time but it did not loosen up the grip on the spline on the shaft.

As far as the crossmember, are you talking about the round bar that runs the width of the car and bolts to the front of the rear suspension trailing arm that the shock absorbers bolt too?

I already have the motor out so that may be making it more difficult as the torque tube is just sliding back and forth and flopping around. I am so close here to being done, thanks to those who contribute, I so appreciate it.

Yes the coupler could be the issue. It should have movement and either stay on the torque tube or come off with the transaxle.

#1, the coupler needs to be slid back towards the transmission. That sounds like whats holding you up. Take the bolts ALL the way out and use your jack to lift up on the trans just alittle to get the coupler to slide. It sounds like it has bound up because you are letting the transmission sag.

#2, NO thats the torsion bar! The transmission bolts to a U shaped crossmember which is bolted to the chassis via two 17 or 19mm bolts. Taking that loose means the muffler and heat sheld need to come out but its easier to control and remove that way.

He has an early 944... the crossmember doesn't come down. Just undo the two trans mounts, there should be one bolt on each one (15mm or 17mm?) that holds them to the crossmember. Just undo those, easy.