Can someone give me some advice on getting to the top bolts of the 1979 Tranny? Besides using the fiat spec tool?
I am not a Pro mechanic and only have Limited money for tools! The tools I have are 3/8's and 1/2 inch socket drive sets Metric of course and a set of Open and closed end Wrenches! Any help or advice to get to these bolts easier would be appreciated! I have read everything to do in my Repair book but it is vague about how best to get to those bolts! Please no smart azz remarks like take it to a Pro! Or get someone else to do it! Please be Courteous , Thanks!
Thanks Red I have a very long 3/8's extension and swivel! Will try this and hope i can break those bolts loose! Is it best to make sure the engine is secured befor removing these last bolts to make sure that the motor dosent tilt back and hit the firewall?
The engine should be fine. Are you on jack stands or a lift? if your on jack stands you need to get the car as high as you can get it. The transmission is fairly light. I removed my tranny on Friday. With the help of a buddy took about 45 min. from start to finish. But I removed a few tranny's in my day. I will be installing a my rebuilt tranny tomorrow once UPS arrives. Are you rebuilding or replacing?
I have the Car up a little over 2 feet in hieght, that is what the book recommends! I am replacing the tranny with one from a parts car. It only has about 40k on the engine and tranny! The one I am taking out has a problem with 3rd and 4th gear! I think I will try to rebuild it for a spare! Thanks for your Help!
Here is my opinion. 40,000 miles seems very suspect to me, unless it was totaled in its forth or fifth year of existance, or unless your mother or father bought it new and its been in the family since.
I would have the transplant trans oil drained and cover taken off and the gears looked at by someone who knows what they should look like. Heck, some good close pictures (not from a camera phone) of the gearing, with the shifter engaged in the four separate gears and uploaded to this forum might go a long way. Unless you are a gambling man or unless you wouldnt mind doing this all over again in 6 months.
Take the top bolts off first, then you can control the bottoms ones.
I hope this reply was courteous enough for you. Sounds like you ran into a bad forum somewhere.
Let me know how it goes, I'm getting ready to drop my 79 tran also. I'm a little concerned about setting my jacks that high. Are you using two or four jacks? Thx
wow1969 wrote:Can someone give me some advice on getting to the top bolts of the 1979 Tranny? Besides using the fiat spec tool?
I am not a Pro mechanic and only have Limited money for tools! The tools I have are 3/8's and 1/2 inch socket drive sets Metric of course and a set of Open and closed end Wrenches! Any help or advice to get to these bolts easier would be appreciated! I have read everything to do in my Repair book but it is vague about how best to get to those bolts! Please no smart azz remarks like take it to a Pro! Or get someone else to do it! Please be Courteous , Thanks!
as everyone has suggested, you really need these..
eddy314 wrote:Let me know how it goes, I'm getting ready to drop my 79 tran also. I'm a little concerned about setting my jacks that high. Are you using two or four jacks? Thx
Use 4 jack stands. Put 2 on the rear axle and two on the cross member. Thats how I've done it. If you have a lift like Jaime its much easier. If your using jack stands you need to get it as high as you can so the bell housing will clear. two feet up in the air is plenty for it to clear. I'm reinstalling my tranny today.
And be sure you remove the small flywheel cover plate (where the starter is)... or you will be asking yourself why the #%^@$ the tranny does not come out after removing all the big bolts... and please, don't ask me how I know...
I'd suggest anyone tackling this job should invest in a set of locking extensions. These hold the socket on and make hard-to-reach bolts much easier to deal with
So Cal Mark wrote:I'd suggest anyone tackling this job should invest in a set of locking extensions. These hold the socket on and make hard-to-reach bolts much easier to deal with
Learn something new every day... I was not aware those existed!
Thanks guys for all your help and advice! You guys are very courteous! I will let you know how it goes hope to be back under it soon to get the tranny out and other back in! Thanks again!
1. Used electic tape to lock my socket & extensions; bought flex sockets [on ebay] like you folks recommended [worked great!]
2. Used modling clay to keep upper starter & trans bolts in place during replacement
3. My setup: bought 4 6-ton jackstands: 2 under rear axel & 2 on hard points behind front wheels with wood blocks- the 2' height was very handy. Put an xtra jack under the engine crossmember for more safety.
4. Tipped the trans rear more downward than I expected to need to ; this was required to get the bell housing to clear the tunnel
5. Removed clutch fork boot to be able to peer at input shaft to be sure it wasnt taking weight & could tell when it cleared the various clutch parts.
6. DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND TRANS SWITCHES!
7. De-bolted the starter & let it lie on the engine on a rag for a cushion (did not disconnect the cables).
8. Replaced fluid [NAPA GL-1 !!!!!!} in the "new" trans prior to installing - no regrets there.
9. Loosened the motor mount nuts inside the crossmember for more flex.
