I´m going to pull out the transmission, What’s the most common way. To lift the complete package, engine and transmission all together or taking the transmission alone down and back. I can use a car lifter . any recommendations? Do you put out the oilsticktube first from the th400 ?

Tommy

I popped the 4-speed muncie out from underneath the car in about 2 hours. If you only are working on the tranny then that is without a doubt the easiest way.

Just jack the car up, pull the driveshaft, disconnect the speedo, remove the starter, push the tranny crossmember out of the way and drop the tranny out.

Manual 50/50. Auto, I' d pull the hole assembly. For me, the crossmember has always been a pain.

I vote for transmission installed.

I have a good 2 ton motor hoist, an adjustable bracket that mounts to the intake, along with a good rolling floor hoist. As soon as I pull the drive shaft I have a drain pan handy as some of the transmission fluid will leak out. After removing the trans cross brace the motor tips up, lower trans with floor jack and the rest flows out. After it has drained place I place a good plastic bag over the end and tape in place. Two to three pumps on the DA pump and up and out she comes. My buddy and mines best time pulling a motor start to end..... 45 minutes.

Install....35min
Lots of time left to enjoy the beverages.

Don't ask about my worst time installing...7 days..

Pull the hole works! Its a pain in the ars to bolt and unbolt the upper bell housing bolts. Using a floor lift much less laying on my friggen back. After a half dozen times you to can do it in an hour. Gl Bill

Come on guys. Just the trans! You can have it out in half an hour. Dipstick, speedo cable, shifter cable, torque convertor bolts, bell housing bolts, drive shaft, lines, cross-over and she is in your lap.

Tommy has a lift to make it even easier. All he needs is a tranny jack, made to work with the lift, and he could actually do the removal in 20 minutes.

Bill says he hates the top two bell housing bolts. Take them out first from the top then. If you have a little problem with tight places because of big hands or other problems then take out the bolts that hold the trans mount and jack up a little on the tail and the area around the top bolts opens right up and you could take em out with your foot!

BrntBlock,
I'll race you and your helper. With Tommy's hoist and a trans jack, I bet I can take an auto trans out and put another back and drive the car to the store before you can take the engine and trans out of a fully assembled car? How about it?

There Jim stirring the pot !

If you have a hoist and a trans. jack just pull the trans.
Oh how sweet it would be to have a hoist.

But Either way you do it don't forget to buy a trans. plug (there under $10.00) to plug the tailshaft after pulling the driveshaft or your going to have a mess!
Plus be ready for when you pull the dipstick you'll have a bunch of fluid running out.

Doug,
Stir the pot, having fun, whatever you want to call it! The trans jack has an attachment to catch the fluid out of the tail shaft. LOL

Joe just pointed out something really important on another post and it applies here too; Watch your distributor, it may hit the firewall when you lower the tail.

here's a few ways I've dealt with the top two bolts on my manual trans.

-Large open end wrench from the top: Can't get a good position, slips, bruised hand, curse.

-slip a pipe over the open end for leverage: see above.

-use a cheap u-joint socket adapter from underneath: slips, bruised hand, curse.

-use a good u-joint socket adapter: fewer bruises, same amount of cursing

-remove the crossmember, lower the trans so I can reach from underneath: curse when the distributor hits the firewall

-remove crossmember AND distributor: can now reach the bolts with a standard socket extension and BFTorquewrench. Curse just because I'm used to it now.

-Easiest solution- don't replace them, so the next time you do this, you don't have to worry about them!! (they're just there for show anyway, right?)

As bad as it was, it still wouldn't warrant taking out the engine. And I'd give my Brother-in-Law's right arm to have a car lift for the job!

I've always just pulled the transmission with a tranny jack and the car on stands. It takes me longer than that though. Always learning something, I see now that you are to STIR the Pot. My error.
Now I know why it takes ME so long to pull the transmission.

Stir the pot before and after, not during, is the trick. Stir, work, stir. Good rule for all work. OK. Time to go work.

BrntBlock,
I'll race you and your helper. With Tommy's hoist and a trans jack, I bet I can take an auto trans out and put another back and drive the car to the store before you can take the engine and trans out of a fully assembled car? How about it? [/quote]

Your on,...but who buys beer???