[wave1957]

Maybe a basic question, but I guess I am missing something:
Lying under a Chevy 1/2ton yesterday, crossmember removed, engine-trans tilted back, there is no way I can reach the bolts attaching the trans to the engine! How do I do that? Is it easier to pull engine and trans together?
But then, when I want to swap my trans at home, same question again! Do I have to pull everything out? How do they do it in transmission shops?
What is the trick?

[va4cqd]

what year half ton?

[wave1957]

1988, but that was just by chance, I guess I would have met with the same issue in any vehicle, even worse in a car.

[SSedan64]

There's another thread with many tips/ideas on this. Do a search in the Trans/Rear section.

[Crosley]

Some vehicle require wobble end - flex type sockets to remove upper bolts.

be very careful here... it sounds like you have zero working knowledge on this... the trans is heavy and will fall quickly if not properly supported .

Be careful

[sqzbox]

At least you picked the easiest vehicle first! Hope you remved the dist cap first or you might break it or bend the shaft when it makes contact with the firewall. I've always pulled the dist. and got the top bolts first and then lowered it for the lower one's. Like crosly said, a swivel and long extention will help a bunch. You also need to pull the torque converter bolt's first so the converter will come off with the tranny as not to damage the converter and not make a mess with tranny fluid all over where your going to be working. Might want to disconnect the drive shaft from the rear differential, and tape around the U-joit cap's so they don't fall off and loose bearings. Leave the drive shaft yoke in the rear of the tranny untill you get it down and level so it doesn't leak out the rear making another mess. Good luck! Need to disconnect the shift linkage first also,as not to bend and damage it.

[fast68]

long extensions is how to do these

[eloc431962]

Long extensions and a swivel is what you need to do ge the job done, And a buddy or two to help you out. ............Cole

[M&M CUSTOM]

Just finished removing the 700R4 from my 1988 Suburban last week, the 18 inch extension and swivel were the only thing able to reach easily.

Just MAKE SURE you remove the little wire harness bracket bolt on the driver side of the transmission or you will rip 3 wires right off like I did. I'm not worried about the ones I did as I am installing a manual trans in it's place. I am going to repair the wires and tape them up out of the way for later just in case.

[wave1957]

yes, thanks, extensions were the way to go, easy, even. no swivel head needed, and I did remove that little cable clip, so no damage! And yes, it was my first trans removal (although I had already swapped engine and trans together) and nobody got hurt!