[cutthroatkid]

Quick question.I need to pull my tranny out of my monte carlo&was wondering should I go buy a trans jack or just use one of my floor jacks?I know when my old man pulled the tranny out of his challenger he just used a floor jack.

[eloc431962]

A good floor jack and a buddy will get the job done just fine. Just make sure you have the monte secure in the air with the jackstands and things.
I have done it by myself like this several times but a buddy is a life saver Put a piece of wood on the jack so you don't bend the pan in and against the filter/screen with the pad on the jack.
No concrete blocks and stuff ok.

Cole

[matts37chev]

i have welded a plate on to my floor jack for trans work

[joe_padavano]

After the first time with a floor jack, I'll never use one again. You only need to drop that trans once.

You can rent a trans jack at most tool rental stores, and Harbor Freight has a nice one that's only $150 when it goes on sale. I bought that one about four years ago and it's very handy. I also use it for things like axles and gas tanks in addition to transmissions. The pitch and roll adjustment makes live VERY easy.

[001mustang]

I have the larger HF trans jack and it is great.
Luxury to control exact position of trans during install.
Problem is you have to store it.

I have the $40 tilting trans adapter which sits atop floor jack.
It's OK but you have to raise your car about a mile above floor.

If I lost my tools I would try Matts37 DIY welded plate

[jsaw]

I just bolt a plate to the saddle of My floor jack It works good.

[matts37chev]

if you can take the pad/foot off of your floor jack you can make multiple adapters including a big flat plate

[timothale]

My new shop has a 2 post lift and the trans jack only drops it to 4 ft from the floor then I slide it onto a machine shop die lifter that will drop to the floor, I used to use the floor jack adaptor and a rachet strap to keep it from sliting off when lowering the trans.

[mafiacustomz]

my grand father uesd a floor jack took of the plate and made a adjustable trans jack plate out of old angle iron

[joe_padavano]

There are two problems with the plates that go on a normal floor jack. First, you need to get the car a mile in the air due to the height of the jack - a trans jack is much lower profile. Second, a trans jack has considerable adjustment in pitch and roll to allow the trans to be lined up with the dowel pins. Most adapter plates don't have that.

[matts37chev]

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

There are two problems with the plates that go on a normal floor jack. First, you need to get the car a mile in the air due to the height of the jack - a trans jack is much lower profile. Second, a trans jack has considerable adjustment in pitch and roll to allow the trans to be lined up with the dowel pins. Most adapter plates don't have that.

your just not doing a good enuff job building your adaptors for your jack if thats the case

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by matts37chev

your just not doing a good enuff job building your adaptors for your jack if thats the case

Still doesn't fix problem No. 1.

Also, given that the realities of life limit the amount of time I can work on cars, I'd rather spend that time building the car, not building tools to build the car. Unfortunately, you either have the time to do it or the money, but never both.

[whojohnjones]

all I ever use is a low profile jack and I never had a problem...just pulled one about an hour ago

[matts37chev]

i'm mostly joking around
car transmisions are small and whimpy to me
i'm a former big truck mech, and im used to 18 speed rockwells that weigh more than a sbc and have input shafts the size of your kids arm.
so if you got anything more than a bottle jack i'm ready, lets do this

[001mustang]

I put 3 spd trans in 66 gmc about 4 years ago.
I put trans on chest and bench pressed it into position.
Floor jack adapter to tall and didn't have HF trans jack at that time.

That's why I mentioned the luxury of low profile tilting trans jack I have now.
Later did C4 rebuild and it was so nice having such control.