Transmission removal help

[carnagexxxx]

I'm having a hell of a time trying to get to my top bolts off of the bell housing. Does anyone have any tricks? I ran out of ideas and I'm thinking I might need a tool that I don't have. Thanks for anyone's help and.

I got yelled at for reviving an old thread which is odd because everyone gets scolded for not searching. I searched but found little information on tips or tricks to get to that top bolt.

[Modrified]

im assuming you dont have your car on a lift.

couple tricks for yah:

if you have a long enough extension from where the bolt is to where the hole where the shifters goes through - have someone inside the car with the ratchet or breaker bar and the other person under the car guide the socket attached to your extension onto the bolt. there is a lot of leverage from inside the car.

another: if your car is high enough, and have a super long extension (me and my friends call it tranny puller), longer than the tranny, break the bolts from the end of tranny. click here for pics (http://www.zeroyon.com/index/content/view/59/47/1/2/)

pic is not mine. it's zeroyon's.

and the last trick that i know, which i used the first time i did my tranny: unloosen your motor mounts and then jack up your motor from the front so it will slant. tranny will be diagonal towards ground and engine side is raised. this way you have more room to slide a ratchet from the side of the bell housing to break the bolts.

hope those helps.

[wiggafly808]

I did it with a huge extension and a universal joint.. (great tool to have)

Stick a pipe on the end of your ratchet as a cheater bar

[Slammed Assassin]

another way to do it is to just use a 14m box end wrench and reach in from the starter side of the bay and just screw it off little by little.on the exhaust side a regular ratchet with a extension should work.a box end ratchet wrench would be very helpful.

[Flybert]

another way to do it is to just use a 14m box end wrench and reach in from the starter side of the bay and just screw it off little by little.on the exhaust side a regular ratchet with a extension should work.a box end ratchet wrench would be very helpful.

That's how I do it.

[spoolin_s14]

ive found it easier to just pull the motor and trans out

[Temple240]

5speed? i'm able to just reach my arm around the bellhousing and get to the bolts without even using an extension.

[Pblesh85]

I am in the process of my five speed swap right now. I have a few tips that might help you out.

Do you have a long ext. for your ratchet or air gun(like two feet long)? If you do you have one there is an easy way to do it. You might need to buy a socket with a swivle built into it to make it alot easier. Take a block of wood and a jack. Place the block under your oil pan on the jack. Slowly jack up the front of your motor. It can go quite a bit with out any damage. This will allow you to get a few more inches on the top of your bellhousing for clearance. This should allow a more direct route for it to come out.

Let me know if this helps at all.

[carnagexxxx]

Thanks guys for the good explanations. I was working on it myself for a good chunk of time last night and I guess fatigue set in to come up with any solutions.

I'm going to go to the hardware store today and I'll just buy a bunch more socket accessories. You can't have too many tools right!?

If I can't get it off by conventional means I'll have to get Chuck Norris to knock the sumabitc off.

[MrFixIt]

5speed? i'm able to just reach my arm around the bellhousing and get to the bolts without even using an extension.
:werd:.........

[holybushoffire]

I just used a 14mm ratcheting wrench on the hex head, and hooked a larger wrench to the open side. Then I just pushed the attached wrench up and down slowly loosening the tranny bolt. It worked wonders, but would have been better if another person was applying tension to the ratcheting wrench from above to eliminate the chance of it slipping off.

[brian m]

:stupid:FTW

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944002000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Wrenches

Break them loose and have at it.

[koukimonster139]

extensions and swivels

[The Gray Ghost]

Use two 18 inch 1/2 drive extensions and a universal tip. This is what I used to get mine out


I'm having a hell of a time trying to get to my top bolts off of the bell housing. Does anyone have any tricks? I ran out of ideas and I'm thinking I might need a tool that I don't have. Thanks for anyone's help and.

I got yelled at for reviving an old thread which is odd because everyone gets scolded for not searching. I searched but found little information on tips or tricks to get to that top bolt.

[nicku]

just take the exhaust out from the exhaust hangers and let it hang, it will give you about an inch lower

[1QUICK4]

A swivel right after the socket to some really long extensions does the trick. And like it was said loosen your motor mounts and jack up the front of the motor, but I couldn't get the bolt out without lowering the motor. Then jack up the motor again and it's a pain but you gotta spin the tranny in a certain direction and it just comes out.

[aNskY]

i always get away with swivel and a couple extensions, its not that bad..

[krazydriver]

when i first pulled my transmission to replace the clutch i had to get to the top bolt with a 1/4 drive universal, to a 3" extension, to another universal, to a 12" extension... it was hard... but it was february in NY, i was soaking wet and had hypothermia at the time..

Now with no emissions or idle stuff i can just reach behind the block and get to those.

[Kriskouki]

I am sure that everyone has their own ways of doing this.....I had the same problem too with all the 3 bolts on the top of the bellhousing......what I will recommend is that it just takes some times........I am sure that you could use things around you to finish the job......The most important thing is you have to have your tools.....since different tools meant for different jobs....

[carnagexxxx]

Thanks again for the help. I eventually got everything out and now I'm in the process of getting the thing back up in the car. This is a HUGE P.I.T.A! The write-ups and everything else I read were not kidding. I've tried jacks and wooden blocks and even my friend put the whole thing on his chest and bench pressed it up there but we couldn't get it into position. Going to try again tonight so I don't have to ride the 10 speed to work again lolrz.

Any tips on this one?

[1QUICK4]

Thanks again for the help. I eventually got everything out and now I'm in the process of getting the thing back up in the car. This is a HUGE P.I.T.A! The write-ups and everything else I read were not kidding. I've tried jacks and wooden blocks and even my friend put the whole thing on his chest and bench pressed it up there but we couldn't get it into position. Going to try again tonight so I don't have to ride the 10 speed to work again lolrz.

Any tips on this one?

jack up the motor, make sure tranny is in neutral so the input shaft turns easy, then turn it 90 degrees with the starter facing down and it goes in. if you have trouble try having the back end of the tranny pointing down and the bell housing higher than the tail end, that's how i do it

Also it is a very tight fit and my buddy got it to fit with some chassis modification (sledge hammer to the underside of the firewall and in that well)

[DJ_Sunrise]

before I even touch anything on the tranny.. Motor mounts are loose, and engine is jacked up... Then I use a 30 some odd inch extension, 3/8s wrench and 3/8's universal to get to the bolts. It's a bitch getting them off, since they are supposed to be tight.

-Bart

[projectRDM]

I never put the top bellhousing bolts back in. You don't *need* them, the ones on the sides do fine to hold it together and the mounts will keep the entire assembly from pulling apart.

[Addicted2Kouki]

another way to do it is to just use a 14m box end wrench and reach in from the starter side of the bay and just screw it off little by little.on the exhaust side a regular ratchet with a extension should work.a box end ratchet wrench would be very helpful.

thats how i do it too.
best way if you dont have any of those swivel heads or extensions.

it does take forever though.

[carnagexxxx]

I'm going to try to loosen the motor mount bolts to see if I can tilt the engine down a hair. I'm assuming this will help get the trans to line up correctly. So as I take it, the trick is to start with the transmission almost up side down. Is the best way to roll it counter clockwise? As if I were looking from the rear of the car...

[1ZlowZ]

I don't know if anyone else posted but what I do in my transmission swap was loosen the motor mounts a little bit. You don't have to put the transmission upside down. Just put it into gear and hold the rear of the transmission assuming you have a plug for oil not to escape and just turn that. =] GL!

[aNskY]

jack up the motor, make sure tranny is in neutral so the input shaft turns easy, then turn it 90 degrees with the starter facing down and it goes in. if you have trouble try having the back end of the tranny pointing down and the bell housing higher than the tail end, that's how i do it

Also it is a very tight fit and my buddy got it to fit with some chassis modification (sledge hammer to the underside of the firewall and in that well)

exactly, start it with the starter hole facing down, lift it into place then rotate it counter clockwise and it will slip in. it will take more than one try.

[carnagexxxx]

OK, I'm ready to quit life... So I get my friends over to help and after wrestling the trans we get it to line up...yay!!! I bolt everything up and get it ready to start up. I notice that my clutch pedal is really soft (i bled it) and barely comes back up.

I start the car, throw the clutch pedal down and feel to see if it goes into gears. It does. I put it into reverse and it starts to roll back but a NASTY grinding/wurring noise happens.

It goes forward in first gear also. I'm super freaking pissed off because I worked for days (I'm a noob) on this with my buddies and now I fear I have to do it over again.

Any words on this one guys?

[1QUICK4]

At least you'll be better at it this time around?

[koukimonster139]

wait so why did you remove the tranny in the first place


unless i missed it



tranny is trashed sounds like

[carnagexxxx]

I was just replacing the clutch. Everything worked good before I took it apart. So I don't think the tranny is trashed. It goes into gear and the noise goes away when the clutch pedal is not depressed.

I did some searching and I came across some threads saying something about the throwout bearing might be to blame. I'm not sure if it was installed wrong or if it was the wrong one altogether. It looked different than the one that came out of the car to begin with. I knew I should have posted a pic beforehand.

[koukimonster139]

oh :/


well you know what you gotta do


only thing to it is to do it

[carnagexxxx]

Yeah, I think this time I'm going to time myself and see if I can take the whole thing out in under an hour. Now that I know where most of the bolts and crap are and how to remove them, I think I'll be able to rip it apart pretty quick. The freakin hard part is putting the thing back up in there.

I'm not a mechanic by any means but this is giving more and more respect for the guys and girls who do it for a living. Hell, I give mad respect to the people who are willing to do everything on their car themself.

I found this pic on another site but it looks almost exactly what I have now. Top one looks like what came out before and the bottom bigger one is what I installed. http://www.mysportscar.com/andy/FA/193.jpg

[ericcastro]

It goes forward in reverse also.


what??

what kind of tranny you put on and where did you get it?? is it some old dogleg Z tranny?? WTF. lol

The grinding might be the throw out bearing. (right guys, the little ring one, not the release bearing?) Cause i put a new clutch in at the track the other week and didnt have the tool to replace it. so it grinds a little with the clutch down in first.

I also didnt loosen my engine or rotate the tranny to remount or remove it.

I put a bag on the leaking end and used 2 zip ties to secure the fluid in.

I used rotating ratches/ speed wrenches to get the top bolts off. it took a few minutes, but I did it from the top and it was pretty easy.

GL, I only tell you this stuff cause it sounds like its coming off soo :) lol

Dont give up hope, we all learned this way. doing a shitty project, getting it wrong and redoing it. You almost had it, so just try again. its faster the second time round :)

BTW, your clutch will probably get pressure back once your really driving it. and did you have the stick shift in when you put it in gear, or did you just move the tranny lever by hand??

[Smurf_240SX]

extensions and swivels are always handy in tight situations like this:D

[ericcastro]

I just realized I didnt see your last 2 post.


I dont think its that bearing. I think its the little ring that the tranny "plugs" into. I forget what its called, someone help me. I did my tranny and thats the one i couldnt replace, and it makes the same noise yours does.

BTW, I had all the tools I needed, and extra guy and it still took me 4 hours, so dont be discouraged if it takes over an hour :)

[carnagexxxx]

what??

what kind of tranny you put on and where did you get it?? is it some old dogleg Z tranny?? WTF. lol

Sorry that was supposed to say that it goes forward in first. Basically the clutch seems to be working, just not well.

The grinding might be the throw out bearing. (right guys, the little ring one, not the release bearing?) Cause i put a new clutch in at the track the other week and didnt have the tool to replace it. so it grinds a little with the clutch down in first.

I also didnt loosen my engine or rotate the tranny to remount or remove it.

I put a bag on the leaking end and used 2 zip ties to secure the fluid in.

I used rotating ratches/ speed wrenches to get the top bolts off. it took a few minutes, but I did it from the top and it was pretty easy.

GL, I only tell you this stuff cause it sounds like its coming off soo :) lol

Dont give up hope, we all learned this way. doing a shitty project, getting it wrong and redoing it. You almost had it, so just try again. its faster the second time round :)

BTW, your clutch will probably get pressure back once your really driving it. and did you have the stick shift in when you put it in gear, or did you just move the tranny lever by hand??

I'm hoping that it will be faster this time around. I just hope that I get it right when I do it again. I still don't have any idea how the heck things got screwed up.

BTW, did anyone take a look at the bearings I posted?

[carnagexxxx]

I just realized I didnt see your last 2 post.


I dont think its that bearing. I think its the little ring that the tranny "plugs" into. I forget what its called, someone help me. I did my tranny and thats the one i couldnt replace, and it makes the same noise yours does.

BTW, I had all the tools I needed, and extra guy and it still took me 4 hours, so dont be discouraged if it takes over an hour :)

That's the pilot bearing. I didn't replace it but I can't see how it would make that nasty noise. I guess I better replace it now just in case. http://www.mysportscar.com/andy/FA/193.jpg (http://www.mysportscar.com/andy/FA/193.jpg) The top one is the old and the bottom is the new release bearings.

[ericcastro]

Yeah, the pilot bearing. My buddy Edgar told me he did his whole clutch, left that, and it did the same thing our cars are doing. He replaced it and it went away.

And you might have the release bearing backwards?? you see how one in your pic is upside down. Not sure if it matters, but I made sure to put the beveled side the same way on the new one and the flat side the same way. Bet it you do that you get more clutch pressure too, since the bearing is a touch longer on one side.

[let5l1de]

yeah the pilot bearing might make some noise from the input shaft of the transmission spinning inside of it. The bushing is used to keep the input shaft straight and save the input shaft bearing from getting chewed up from excessive angel when getting on the throttle or clutch kicking... (now you know what bearing dies first in almost every trany ever made)

(*)(*)Be sure to use the grease supplied in your clutch kit or wheel bearing grease only on the pilot bearing and tip of the input shaft!(*)(*)

You may also want to apply some grease on the T.O. brg. (throw out) collar for smooth in-n-out :keke: action. maybe even apply some to the pivot ball found behind the clutch fork. Lastly, a small dab of grease to the clutch slave pin to fork contact area.


IMO the T.O. brg is the one that typically makes noise... thats why everyone always says to replace it every time you do a clutch change. its a cheap and easy item to replace when you have the trans off anyway. be sure that the bearing has been well packed with wheel brg grease prior to installing it. :aw: Do NOt Over PacK w/GrEASE because the excessive grease may fling onto your clutch and cause slippage. no grease, oils or lubricants whatsoever, should touch the clutch disc, pressure plate and flywheel itself...!

gl :bigok:

[carnagexxxx]

Well, guys and girls, I finally got everything all wrapped up and working last night! I am pretty happy now for a few reasons. One being that I have a sense of acomplishment that can only come from doing a difficult job. Two, the fact that my buddies are there to back me up with car stuff. And three, you people here on Zilvia have been very very helpful! I thank everyone who offered help and hopefully someday I'll be able to return the favor!



Things that may help people in the future that I have learned:

1. READ AS MUCH ABOUT CLUTCH SWAPS BEFORE YOU DO IT! This doesn't apply to just 240sx info but anything else you can find.
2. DON'T TAKE ANY SHORTCUTS! Do it right the first time.
3. Don't get frustrated too much when putting the tranny back in. It takes some muscle and effort but it will get in there.

4. If you don't have a lift a good 3 ton floor jack and a transmission adapter go to harborfreight to get them along with the bearing puller
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=5469)
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=95640)

[WoolyS14DET]

SO you replaced the T.O. bearing and the Pilot bearing right ???

[carnagexxxx]

SO you replaced the T.O. bearing and the Pilot bearing right ???

Yes, I did. The bearing is a PITA to get out. To put the new on in, i just tapped in in with a hammer and socket with a slightly smaller outter diameter than the hole the bushing goes into.

[WoolyS14DET]

Glad to see that you solved the problem !! :bigok: