Almost got it in...

I ended up using a motorcycle jack rather than a transmission jack. The Harbor Freight prices were actually cheaper by $20 for the motorcycle jack ($69), and it lowers to 3", where the trans jack only went down to 10". Also, the motorcyle jack is hydraulic, and the trans jack was a scissor jack that was raised and lowered by putting a 3/8 ratchet on it

As soon has hardware store opens, I will buy the last fitting for the cooler and the lines, and slap it all together. Hope to be on the road by this afternoon :bananaman

Feel free to throw last-minute suggestions at me. This is my first automatic trans swap.

 

just be sure the torque converter is completely engaged into the front pump. it "clicks" 3 times while rotating it into place.


otherwise, get her finished a burn the tires off

 

I just use my floor jack, and maybe a 4X4 piece of wood.

 

I used the floor jack taking it out, got it almost down, and it fell off and almost took my buddy's arm with it. So from now on, I am using this. It has a HUGE platform for the transmission to sit on and is very sturdy.

Transmission is completely dry. I put a1-1/2 qt fluid in the converter, got my 3 clicks (did this several times just to make sure that when it goes all the way in, it looks the same each time. There is about a 1/4" gap between a straightedge on the bellhousing to the front tip of the converter.)

Is it ok to start the car with the trans dry? I will fill it up through the dipstick but I know it won't be enough. Will it be safe to run it for a few minutes while I top it off and check and recheck it?

Or is there a secret to priming the trans before firing it up?

 

You need to fill the pan first, then fire it up, while adding fluid. Or that's what I was told by my transmission guy. The pump will fill the torque converter with the fluid from the pan, so you just have to keep adding fluid, until your close. It doesn't hurt to know the amount of fluid you'll need, so you'll know when your close.
You need a real floor jack, the one in your picture is too small, a bigger one makes things much easier. I usually lay on the floor to steady the tranny, while someone else controls the jack.

 

The one I used was an aluminum "racing" floor jack. It has a 5 or 6" rubber platform on top.

That one in the picture is my old jack. It is pretty much worthless. But it served it's purpose for it's life...

 

Sounds like you got it licked Scott!!! put 4 Qts of fluid in the trans before running it.Then start it up,check level and fill as needed.Run it through the gears a few times while filling it to be certain all the circuits in the trans get fluid.Top it off and go for a ride.(after the final leak check of course)Good luck!!!

 

I have a friend coming over in about an hour. I'm doing the same thing. Floor jack, plywood and 4 arms.
When i took mine out, I put a milk crate under it, wiggled it a bit and pulled. Dropped it about 2" onto a milk crate, and used the floor jack to lower it to the ground. went smooth as 12 year old scotch

 

Well, it all went together surprisingly easy.

Got everything all snugged up, and found that the vacuum line to the modulator AND my tach sensor wire are BOTH pinched between bellhousing and engine block

Now I gotta take it half back apart and get those out...

Other than that, it all lined up pretty easily, popped right onto the guide dowels, and I even had the converter lined up dead onto the flywheel

Best thing is I was able to do all this alone. Just peace and quiet, A/C vent blowing on me, and a fan blowing up my shirt.

 

Well, that wasn't too bad. got all the bolts loose and pulled out the wire and hose. I somehow snagged just the last 1/4" of the hose! Just barely snagged the tip, but still had to loosen everything back up to get it out.

 

I usualy get under it and rest it on my self and carefuly move it towards the ground. I have never had help.

 

Don't forget to lign up the drain plug.

 

X2 that will ruin your day

 

Actually, I didn't even think about the drain plug.

Then when I was turning the engine to tighten up all the converter bolts, I saw that one hole with the drain plug sticking out of it, and thought to myself "there is no way I could have been that lucky!"

Now, this is an aftermarket flywheel, SFI approved yadayadayada. It just might have a drain plug hole all the way around so you don't have to worry about it.

Or, maybe I just lucked out and got it on right without trying

Everything bolted up and closed, otherwise I would go out and turn it over and see if it had 4 holes for the drain plug.

 

I use that same jack, and a "custom" wood 4" spacer, built to straddle the jack platform. I can get em in and out within an hour.