Transmission Removal/ install?

[FastGallopingPonies]

Alright Gotta put the '91s Tranny in the '88. Any tips or tricks when going about it. Gotta drop 2 and install one. Have 2 days to do it with my buddy on the ground. advice is mucho appreciated.

[P72Ford]

Don't drop the transmission on your fingers. My friend lost some fingers that way...

[Mercmarquis]

I got some longer bell housing bolts with a large shank so I could line the converter bolts with the flywheel easier by having the tranny farther back. Theres not too many shortcuts I've found, just gotta get under there and do it. I've done this like 12 times already. Its a pain, but take your damn time.

[1987cp]

My biggest annoyances when swapping C4s in the '79 were cooling lines, and dropping the dang thing off the transmission jack. Good thing I had a friend nearby with strong arms who helped me lift the thing back onto the jack. Next time I'll probably use compression fittings on the cooling lines rather than trying to make new double-flares under the car, and use a ratchet strap to make jolly sure the thing won't slide around on the jack. Well, and bolting the exhaust back up afterward wasn't much fun, but is it ever? :p Oh, and I had issues getting the tranny crossmember out, but my car is uber rusty underneath. Soaking the nuts in PB Blaster a couple days ahead of time will help lots with that, as will having an IR-231 or comparable heavy-duty impact wrench.

I don't recall much else being particularly difficult, just kind of tedious and greasy and time consuming, and I did pretty much the whole thing by myself.

[gadget73]

If you can get your hands on a floor transmission jack, it'll help a bit. They have a wider pad so the trans is more stable on top of it. They also usually have hand wheels to tilt the thing as needed.

Otherwise not many tricks. Just be sure you've got the torque converter studs lined up in the flexplate before tightening the bolts up, otherwise you'll ruin the pump.

[1987cp]

Otherwise not many tricks. Just be sure you've got the torque converter studs lined up in the flexplate before tightening the bolts up, otherwise you'll ruin the pump.

+1

And DO NOT force the converter onto the input shaft of the new transmission. I did this once on another car, and earned myself a tranny rebuild ...

[FastGallopingPonies]

How high do I need the car off the ground? the jackstands we have are rather small. extend to maybe 2 feet or so. Think they are 1.5 tons?

[1987cp]

As long as you can physically maneuver the transmission under the car, even if you have to tilt it a little for the bellhousing to clear the frame, that's all that's critical, even if it's not quite comfortable (my vertical clearance whilst prostrate has been decreasing lately ....). Even nicer if you can slide it under while attached to the tranny jack.

[FastGallopingPonies]

how tall is the tranny with the bellhousing? Would a set of ramps do? I plan on buying a scissor style tranny jack for this from harbor freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39178

[1987cp]

I'm not sure, you may be able to do with a single set of ramps in a pinch. That'll depend somewhat on your specific vehicle's ride height. It will probably be easier if both ends of the car are in the air. I've got an AOD core in the garage, so I can measure the bellhousing for you later.

[Mercmarquis]

Front and rear in the air helps alot. More room and its leveled up.

[gadget73]

i want to say the trans needs about 18-20" to fit under the car on a jack. Not sure if the 3 ton jackstands or ramps will quite do it. It might but it'll be tight. 6 ton stands should do the job just fine tho.

[1987cp]

i want to say the trans needs about 18-20" to fit under the car on a jack. Not sure if the 3 ton jackstands or ramps will quite do it. It might but it'll be tight. 6 ton stands should do the job just fine tho.

That's what I measured on my core in the garage. 20" should be enough clearance to slide the tranny under the car on the floor, more if you want to roll it underneath already fastened to the jack.

[phayzer5]

DONT use the bellhousing bolts to draw the transmission to the engine. you'll waste the front pump and possible converter

[FastGallopingPonies]

Got outta work early today to go to Harbor freight picked up 4, 6 ton Stands. Tomorrow after school the weekend project begins. Hopefully it all goes smooth.