Doing a transmission install on the floor, by yourself is easily one of the trickiest and stressful jobs the average guy is going to come across.
Laying on the ground, under the car and trying to lift the trans onto the jack, then maneuver the jack and keeping everything balanced while directing it all forward to line up with the engine is the definition of suck and can stop many guys in their tracks.
Here’s a quick, easy method using a jackstand and a block of wood to make up for the lack of leverage and brute strength that makes this job such a nightmare.
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Jegs 200 bucks has an amazing transmission jack tilts all ways and low profile.
I was 17 when I took the Borgwarner 35 out of my Chrysler. The torque converter came off the shaft and dumped trans oil all over my face. I could do nothing as I was on my back with the trans on my chest. For 40 yrs the smell of trans oil has me traumatised
OK, now do that while under the car. Jack stands only give you so much clearance.
Man, that brings back a lot of memories. That looks somewhat easier than the way I did it back in the 70s while working out of my driveway. I only had a bottle jack, cinder blocks and blocks of wood. But I got it done. I used to dream about owning a floor jack back then. I learned to be innovative, which served me well going forward.
Great video!
Motorcycle jack works awesome
That was golden, great job.
Well I don't do that stuff anymore being old..lol but I remember doing it the caveman stick it on your chest I push your body upward.. I guess I sure did things the hard way
Tony still don't have a lift in the shop how long have you been there for now??? lol
A friend bought a 280Z transmission, went to a guy's house at night and they both were under the car pulling it and chatting about Z-cars. The last "U" joint bolt came out and the car rolled off the ramps pinning them both under the car for hours. The guy lost an arm in the process, so, careful with ramps.
Uncle Tony said 'Cattywampus'. That is all.
Motorbike jacks are handy, transmissions, rear beams, hubs, exhausts etc, saves your back. Mine's on wheels so even easier.
I found that using a old harmonic balancer off a 305 ,a bolt and nut and some appropriate washers through the crank bolt hole of the HB and then bolting it to the floor jack through the cup makes for a damn fine adaptor for installing transmissions throw a appropriate sized needle bearing set in the mix and and makes jockeing that trans around a shit ton easier.
If i was in dirt, i used plywood.
I always used a floor jack, made an "H" pattern out of angle iron, about 18" square, and welded it to the cup on the floor jack. Of course flat side up, never took it off, still on. Works with everything, and still low profile enough to get under just about everything that I can afford to work on.
I was a strong MFer when I was younger. Putting 4 speeds on my chest and bench pressing them into the place wasn’t easy but I did it Tried a 350 lock up once once lol and I was like nope
Good advice, what is the best way to support the engine while doing this?
I made a small frame from 1x maple scrap laying about, constructed so I could strap it to the transmission and give me a sturdy base & not put weight on the pan. Works well. Used the same for engine removal with transmission still in the car: set jacks on front end, put a screw type bottle jack underneath the transmission, loosened bolts slightly for some wiggle room, and… good to go. If I could attach a picture, I would. Several pieces glued cross grain to avoid splitting was the key.
Great stuff ! It brought back memories of bench pressing transmissions in my 69 roadrunner
wow that reminded me of all the old mopar trannys i changed out in the 70s and 80s i did it almost the exact same way one nite i yanked the trans out of my 440 challenger pulled the pump using the bar and chain method replaced the clutches slammed it back together and was out looking for more victims in 3 hrs .I stomped on a Camaro real bad that night.
I remember resting under my brother's 84 Cougar trying to get an automatic into position behind a 302 swap we did. For hours we toiled. Dad went in to find something to help leverage it into place while it rested on my chest. I lost my proverbial doo-doo, had a mini roid rage and bench pressed the thing into place. Surprised myself when it stayed in place as I got the jack stand under the tail shaft. In all my years of working on cars, this is the one thing I never forget and fear having to do again. Great tips her, Uncle Tony
I used to just muscle them into place like a He-Man. But I'm now 37 years old, and going to physical therapy for arthritis in my right shoulder. The darn thing hurts like hell. Just reaching into my refrigerator for a drink I'm nearly screaming in pain. I also have no cartilage left in my rib cage, and the cartilage in my neck is showing excessive ware. My spinal cord has ware and tear consistent with a 70 year old man. As i said, I'm only 37. I used to be a pretty strong guy. I could spin oil filters off by hand without a wrench, I could lift tires and wheels and put them on the car one handed, i could pick up a transmission and walk across the shop with it. I was a pretty strong guy. But take my word for it. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. My back sounds like a bundle of sticks breaking every time i bend over. My shoulders make crunching sounds if i shrug them, and just bending over to pick something up off the floor, makes my knees and hips pop so loud people on the other side of the room say "What was that?" . My body is so racked with pain i can't sleep some nights. You might have strong muscles, But your bones, and joints, and cartilages, tendons, ligaments, etc. Those are pretty much the same as everyone else's, you strain them to much, you're going to have problem later down the road. It doesn't matter if you don't need to wedge the trans to get it off the floor. Use the jack anyways. It doesn't matter if you're strong enough to spin an oil filter off by hand. Use the wrench. Be easy on your body. Don't ware it out before it's expiration date. If you do, you'll You'll regret it, i promise you that.
When I was young and couldn't afford a floor jack I would lie in me back and roll the transmission onto my chest and sort of bench press the transmission into place. Now that I'm old, I have a transmission jack. I really like the wrench trick!
I had a large scissor jack when I started working on cars in the 1970s.
After I got a floor jack I made an adapter to secure the transmission to the jack.
Great ideas love it !
That's actually a pretty good tip.