Transmission Install, Then Transfer Case

[Chief Master Sergeant]

I have searched for two hours now and didn't find my answer, so now I turn to you. (I was trying to avoid asking another dumb question). We are trying to install the transmission today and plan to do it first, then put the transfer case in afterward. If I get the transmission in I plan to go ahead and bolt the intermediate up to the cross member to take the weight off the bell housing. Will I be able to mount the transfer case up with the cross member already in? I read an earlier post about removing the transfer case and they made it sound like the cross member had to be removed to get it off/on.

Thanks in advance!

 

[tejayandtina]

Just did this. If at all possible, try to bolt everything together first. If thats not possible, pick your poison. Either you are going to have to muscle the trans/xfer case onto the engine, or the xfer case and crossmember up into position. I did it that way (trans and engine first, then transfer case and crossmember up from the bottom). I used a Harbor Freight trans jack and a few straps to raise/lower the trans as needed to slide the transfer case on. Pretty time consuming. I left everything loose to keep the whole thing tilted down so I could get my hands on top to bolt on the shifter and to get to the top bolts. Space was still tight and I had to jack the truck way up high to get the transfer case to slide in from the side on the jack. Good luck!

 

[tejayandtina]

BTW, I don't see how it could be possible to install the crossmember first. The time I had with it out would lead me to believe it would be impossible (or too hard to even bother).

 

[Chief Master Sergeant]

Tilt it? Do you have a body lift?

 

[Viperwolf1]

I think the bolts that attach the tcase to the adapter are going to be too hard to get to with the crossmember inplace. I'd just support the bottom of the trans, attach the adapter and tcase, then put the crossmember in.

 

[Chief Master Sergeant]

I think I will just hold the transmission in place with a ratchet strap then.

 

[tejayandtina]

Tilt it? Do you have a body lift?

Nope, bone stock. I was replacing the engine too so I let it rock on the mounts. Probably more than you would get with the engine already bolted in but you should get some wiggle room.

 

[Steve83]

On Frank's truck, I never drop the Xmbr when I pull the t-case. But the other guy that worked on it butchered a massive hole in the tunnel for the shifter, and because of the AOD adapter, there's a lot of clearance around the Xmbr.

. .

 

[Chief Master Sergeant]

FYI...I did use the cross member as a support while we wrangled the transfer case on. I just didn't attach it. It was in the way a little, but worked like a charm. Transfer case/tranny are both in and I should have the linkage back in this week if I get the time at night. This whole project, which turned into 10 projects, took way too long.

 

[1970mule]

I am thinking you have the stock 3 speed. if so then i have done this. i think its best to do it in the 3 sections. i put the tranny in then the intermediate next the cross member. then i put up the transfer case. I have no body lift. and i did it however you can not get a torq wrench in there i am not sure how much you care about that. if you dont have a transmission jack then i really suggest doing it in 3 parts, and you will get.