Hey guys... I will admit, when I first started messing with these cars, I used to struggle like hell, and always needed help getting the transmission back up. Now after having done it so many times, I have learned a little trick about being able to get it back in place with a regular floor jack. I will usually try to get the floor of the car about 22 inches off the ground. When I drop the trans, getting the plate on the jack right behind the drain plug allows the trans to level out as you raise the jack. I usually leave it setting on the jack while it's out. If I do it right, the plate that covers the striker rod is leaning against the drive shaft tunnel, so it doesn't fall off the jack. When it's ready to go back in, I lay on my left side, steady the trans with my left hand on the bell housing, and use my legs to pump the jack to get it back in place. If done right, it takes 5 minutes tops to get the trans to engage. I will put one bolt in the top, and one in the bottom, and then secure the transmission mount.
Don't forget to jack the front of the engine. The engine dropped forward 5mm when I took the box off. Spent 6 hours wondering why I couldn't get the box back in. After jacking the front of the engine it went back in 10 mins. Beavis
i geuss i could....but ive got friends you are more than willing to help out for the cost of a few beers and snags..... on another note, laying under a car fitting heavy items like gearbox's can and has ended badly for people before.....if a stand lets go or similar....crunch......
Yeah... but once you get it up about half way, the tunnel serves to hold the transmission on the jack if it goes wobbly. As far as a stand letting go, I use 6 ton stands, so I doubt my 1.5 ton car is gonna be able to manage that.
I've done it myself. But I hate doing gearboxes. I pay people now unless the engine is coming out too.
I used to lay under the tunnel, drag the gearbox up on to me guts then bench press the bastard in there using my knees to support the trans mount. Then upgraded to the trolly jack system Then upgraded to trolly jack and hoist combo Then upgraded to 750Kg trans jack and hoist combo. Takes about 30min to pull a box now with the hoist and trans jack, used to take about 45mins using man power and (good) axle stands.
Yep did that a few times. UP TILL I F$CKED MY SHOULDER DOING IT and it cost $2000 in gap hospital bills to get my shoulder fixed with an arthroscope..................... So you can stick doing it on your back etc where the sun don't shine.
:rofl: So grievous bodily harm & injury is not on your list of expected events while working on a Z32 then? :rofl: (not laughing at injury, laughing at the last line) We get smarter with age aye, hell I even use the safety chains on the trans jack most of the time :rofl:
There was a time ten years ago where I might have been able to do that... but with age comes certain limitations, and hopefully an understanding of those limitations.
I've done it a couple of times now with jackstands. No problem getting it down but getting it back up on your own is a massive PITA! First time I relied on a couple of scissor jacks to get it back up (very slow), and did it a second time last week. This time around I used an engine support brace with chains and attached coat hangers through the GB bolt holes. These held it in place as I got more height with the jacks, tightened the chains and repeated until in place. Not a fun job which I hope not to do again for many years!
some of the best money i ever spent was on a 2 post car hist , 44 gl drum with wood board on top under gear box lower car till gearbox is on board undo everything pull box back off motor press up button .. been on my back under cars with jacks getting gearbox`s out and in when i was younger and i wonder how i did it these days...Lloyd
Seeing my days of lifting heavy car shite are over and I sold my hoist, I have a multilevel hydraulic transmission lift to sell. Makes pulling and replacing trannies VERY easy. So if anyone wants one, PM me
done it many a time on my back.. usually involves some sort of injury done it on a hoist with tranny jack.. like chaulk and cheese.. makes its a 5 minute walk in the park i swore id enever do it again, however mines at home on the floor at the moment, so will involve more manhadling
Yeah I've don't allot of gearboxes by myself. Zed wise, I converted it from auto to manual and did all the work by myself (for the majority of it all) with no one home. Nothing worse then having that thought in the back of your mind, working alone, with a car on stands while jiggling and tugging and swearing to get the bitch in. My method was similar to your own. Lay on my side, box on jack. Pump the jack up with my legs and man handling it into position. All sweet and super smooth running afterwards
I have done it a few times over the years but never had to touch the Zed thank god . One of the best tricks i was told a few years ago is to jack the front of the motor a little to lower the gearbox end (rear of motor) and it makes getting the box and top bell housing bolts back in . Trolley jack and bessa brick work but it always seem to come down to the final stage of muscle and a few choice worlds of the queens english. As you get older i think you will start to realise that the easiest way is to pay someone to do it. Cheers Dave
