Pulling trans...Comment here...

[Robbie-87plz]

Guys, I'll be attempting to pull the trans this weekend. Any tips, comments, positive or negative would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

[OneLethal87GN]

If you don't get it rebuilt by someone who knows how to build a turbo Buick tranny properly you'll get to know pulling a tranny pretty good. The directions on Gnttype.org are pretty straight-forward. I'd suggest having a strong buddy or a tranny jack to lower it down and lift it back into the car. The only other real tip I would give would be to make sure the convertor is seated properly before reinstalling. Everything else is covered in the directions. It's not a bad job, just something I would rather pay someone else to do.

[Robbie-87plz]

I've read alot on gnttype.org, here, and several other boards. I figure if someone remembers pulling it, they'll have good pointers. I'm very much not mechanically inclined, so this is my first major work. Best way to learn right? Hopefully I'll have a couple guys that'll be showing up. I have access to a lift, jack etc.
Mike Kurtz built the trans a couple years back.
Any additional parts I'll need from offhand? Thanks for your time.

[fast eddie]

Make sure to have the car jacked up high enough to get the tranny out from under the car,one common mistake.
Ed

[Robbie-87plz]

Will be utilizing a lift. Thanks for the tip.

[Firechicken]

Make sure, when you are lowering the trans, the TV cable is not getting caught on something up top. I wrecked a couple of cables by being careless that way.

As well, to get the torque converter bolts out, use a ratchet on the front of the crank to turn the engine over. If you pull the plugs out, there will be no compression in the cylinders and it will make the job easier. Unless, of course, you have one of those flexplate turning tools, in which case you won't need to use a ratchet and socket. But pulling the plugs will still help regardless.

[Robbie-87plz]

Haven't thought about the sparkplug tip..thank you

[Hawaiian Turbo]

Get the flex plate tool. To me, it's worth its weight in gold Why are you pulling the trans?

[Robbie-87plz]

Slipping like a demon in 2nd, and for the most part, it'll allow me to drive with sanity again. Tomorrow at the Marine base hobby shop...

[Nordbert]

Make sure you note where the dipstick tube is routed before you pull the unit down. Take a photo or tie a piece of old extension cord to the right hand hinge
and drop it down the tube. If the tube falls
to the floor, the wire will show you where it goes.

[Nordbert]

Drain the fluid, remove the pan, remove
the TV cable bolt (10mm head) remove TV
cable from wire linkand tie cable to the side as suggested earlier by Firechicken.
Unbolt dipstick tube from the block and
PUSH it out of the case from below. Put pan back on and continue removal.

[Robbie-87plz]

I'm so darn scared about doing this. Kinda like when I switched over to vac. brakes.
Update: Went to the hobby shop and no lifts were available. Looks like I'll attempt it next Sat.
Thanks for all the input fellas. Makes me feel good that there are people out there willing to lend a "hand." Thanks all!

[tonka]

Wouldn't hurt to tie the shifter cable out of the way too after you unbolt it from the trans, somehow I managed to break mine today when pulling tranny out.

[Robbie-87plz]

Darn sorry to hear about that man. Hope everything else went ok.

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by tonka
Wouldn't hurt to tie the shifter cable out of the way too after you unbolt it from the trans, somehow I managed to break mine today when pulling tranny out.

Ditto. I broke mine 2 weekends ago pulling my trans out. Plus when the cable hangs on the trans it tips the f'n thing off the jack (I don't have the luxury of a lift and trans jack). Still waiting for the replacement from GMPARTSDIRECT.

Jim

[Daniel Jost]

use a very long extension and a swivel to get to the upper trans bolts it will make it much easier, also i dont know if you were planning on taking out the cross brace but it would make it much easier, and it is easy to take out.

,Dan