In your experience, transmission installation question.

I have never done it, so any help is appreciated.

For those of you who have done it, which is the easiest way to install a transmission?

Mount the converter to the engine first, and slap in the transmission?

or put converter on transmission, and put it on engine pre-assembled?

Another way that works better?

 

This is how I do it.

 

Thanks for the quick feedback!

Only thing I have done like this is put a new engine onto an already mounted transmission.

I guess it is kinda the same thing, just doing it from underneath rather than from up top.

 

putting the converter on the transmission first is about the only way to make sure the converter is seated...
...letting the back of the motor down will give you a little more room, you may want to remove the fan to save the shroud...
...don't pull the bellhousing on with the bolts...make sure it slides on the lineup pins by hand. if not something isn't right...
...if there is a drain for the converter, make sure it is lined up with the hole in the flexplate...
I know, a little more info. than you asked for...


Frank

 

Thanks, Frank.

Actually, I was going to delete this thread and then reword it, HOW DO I install a transmission.

But you nailed most of the questions I needed to ask in your post.

Couple other questions...

Fluid in converter before installing it...how much?

I can do this with my floor jack, I don't need my engine hoist, do I? Just jack the engine up and down with the floor jack? Hoist is disassembled up in the attic and I don't want to bring it down and reassemble if I don't have to.

Finally, should I take the engine off the mounts, or just loosen the bolts up a bit for movement?

 

Do you have a transmissionn jack? If not HF sells a pretty simple one. I think it goes for $79 and is on sale pretty often for $59. This makes it a whole lot easier. Just roll it underneath. Jack it up and roll it forward. Bump it around a little to line it up. I put a couple of quarts of tranny fluid in the convertor before putting it on. Make sure the converor is all the way on. I usuall check that I can turn the engine by hand, socket and bar on the crank, so that it doesn't bind up as you tighten the tranny. Nothing worse than getting it all tightened up and finding that the convertor is not all the way seated. Also can break the bellhousing or ruin the tranny front pump that way. Tighten the bellhousing bolts making sure they are not forcing the tranny in to the engine. It should slide right in. I also try to line up One flexplate hole directly toward the bottom to line the TC up. Another thing I do is to mount the tranny cooler lines to the tranny before I finish jacking it up and put the crossmember back. Fat hands are hard to get in small places. Hope this helps a little.

 

Thanks! Great advice!!! :Handshake

 

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

This is the one I use. Guess it's gone up in price. They go on sale quite often. Pretty basic. goes up with a 1/2 drive ratchet.

 

Good advice! I figured this one out the hard way.

 

Does the engine need to be supported by a hoist or jack?

I have everything ready to pop off the transmission, and engine mounts are loose. Before I pull the rear support off of the transmission, I want to make sure the engine isn't going to come crashing down on me.

If so, what is a safe way to hold the engine steady WITHOUT using a hoist. I will pull the hoist out of the attic only as a last resort.

 

if your just connecting the engine to the trans while the engine is seated... then just bolt that baby in... put the torque converter in all the way and with a trans jack... jack that big pos up and slide it in... i also had an extra set of hands (thanks ray) but as soon as you get a torque converter bolt through the flex plate bolt that thing up only 1 bolt is needed... then put a bell housing bolt in... then wiggle some more and continue bolting it up

 

OK, I am just going to put this on the back burner until I can get a buddy under there to help. I don't want the transmission rolling off the jack and landing on my (arm/head/fill in body part here _______).

Either that or ask around to borrow the right jack.

 

I used a pair of small floor jacks and a few pieces of wood for shims. Maybe I got lucky, but it really wasn't a big deal to do it without the trans jack. I've had a bit of practice though...

 

I have installed a C4 in my car with a floor jack by myself. It wasn't fun, but didn't have a choice. The next time I do it I will get the adapter for a floor jack or a transmission jack.

Scott make sure you know how to install the converter correctly.

 

Converter is on now, and I can feel it seat 3 separate times. So I am pretty sure I got it on right.

I will need to take it off and fill it up just before installation, but at least I know how it feels as it seats itself.