Tranny removal advice?

[DEANCURTIS17]

I shattered my clutch this past weekend and I just finished the prep work for the removal (driveshafts, linkage, mounts, etc). Pretty much ready to pull the remaining four bolts to the bellhousing and away she'll go. I know the tranny and dana 20 must weigh about 300lbs, right? I have one jack, but it doesn't reach the tranny, only the dana 20. With soneone supporting the tranny while someone lowers the jack, I should be alright....right? Please some tips and advice? Thanks.

 

[honkey84]

My best advice is to pull the two apart seperately and drop it that way. It is extremely funny to handle corretly on a jack. Since you also stated that the jack only reaches the T/C I would remove them seperately. Also when you go to install it will be easier this way also. Save your back!!!! You and a Buddy can get it out in two peices and back together. I have done it this way and is much easier.

 

[ironhorse]

I have to agree with Honkey84. I have pulled the tranny and D20 as a unit before, but doubt I will do it that way again. With that said, I recomend unbolting the adapter housing at the back of the tranny to seperate them. You'll need to replace the gasket, but if you unbolt the housing from the D20, there are some needle bearings that may fall out, and need to be kept track of. The original Ford shop manuals also say to seperate them at the back of the tranny.

 

[VBH289]

its not the taking down thats bad, you could do that with a jack and yourself, no prob. The problem is when you go to put it back up... I have always split it then, but not at the t/c, do it between the adapter and the transmission, trust me, you will be glad you did

 

[classs]

i just did the same thing last week. i bought a trans adapter from harbor frieght for 39.00 that bolted to the top of my floor jack. it worked great. i removed a 435 with d20 attached and reinstalled a c4 with d20 attached all by my self no sweat. best $40.00 bucks.

 

[montanabronc]

it is definitely interesting getting the two back in together, but I have to say it isn't that difficult to pull the two out, with some blocks of wood and pieces of chain, or another person. I personally used beer to bribe a friend to manhandle the tranny while I worked the jack to get them back in. Of course this is by no means the right(or safe) way, but hey you do what ya gotta do.

 

[76Broncofromhell]

You can pull the 3 speed/ Dana 20 as one unit. It isn't that bad.

Now putting in my ZF was a pain because of the size and weight, so I had to do those separately.

 

[DEANCURTIS17]

I have to agree with Honkey84. I have pulled the tranny and D20 as a unit before, but doubt I will do it that way again. With that said, I recomend unbolting the adapter housing at the back of the tranny to seperate them. You'll need to replace the gasket, but if you unbolt the housing from the D20, there are some needle bearings that may fall out, and need to be kept track of. The original Ford shop manuals also say to seperate them at the back of the tranny.

OK Guys, I got the beast out last night in one piece. There's no way I'm putting it back in one, so I'll split it from the back of the tranny. What should I look out for when I take the four bolts out? Gear oil leakage, bearings, etc...I just don't want to seperate them and all hell to break loose. I know about the gasket, no biggie. Any more advice would be great, thanks to everyone with the previous adivce!

 

[ironhorse]

You should expect the gear lube to come running out, but no surprises like bearings falling out, or anything like that. The tailshaft extends a fair ways into the adapter housing, but should slide right out once the housing is split from the tranny. Everything inside both the tranny and adapter are held in by snap rings.

Good luck!