Date:         Mon, 16 Aug 2004 21:49:42 -0700
Reply-To:     Craig Oda <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Craig Oda <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Auto Trans Install - Take Out Engine?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

For the last week I've been trying to fit my 150 pound automatic
transmission back into my van.  I'm getting closer.  However, I still
can't align the two studs on the engine bell housing with the holes on
bottom of the transmission.   :-(

tonight's problem was that the transmission was tilted a bit on the
plywood board I'm using as a platform, resulting in the holes not
being level with each other.  One hole was about a half inch higher
than the other.  I'm going to try and brace the trans on the plywood
with some additional wood, but I'm starting to think of what my other
options are.

I'm considering taking the engine out.  I took the engine out a year
ago and I was able to get it back in the van somehow.   Does anyone
think this approach would be easier?  About 2 years ago, my
transmission burned out on a dirt road by a nice lake and I was forced
to have a local mechanic throw in a rebuilt tranny for me.  I know
that he took out the engine in order to replace the trans.   At the
time, I thought it was because he didn't know that the tranny could be
taken out by itself.  But, now I think that maybe he did know.  The
mechanic's personal vehicle was a vanagon.  Amazing coincidence in a
town that size.

Well, this is option number one.  it is not so appealing because I
don't want to drain the coolant from the cylinder heads and disconnect
all those coolant hoses.   Right now, I've got the tranny cooler hoses
clamped up, but I'll soon run out of hose clamps and won't have enough
to clamp all the hoses if I drop the engine.   If I go this route,
should I reconnect the tranny and the engine while it is out of the
van and drop in the engine/tranny system as a single unit, or should I
install the tranny carrier bolts, then bolt the engine onto that?  I'm
thinking that it might be easier to assemble the tranny and engine out
of the van and then drop in the entire unit.  (I have no experience
with this).

Option two is to buy a tranny jack adapter from Harbor Freight.   I'm
probably going to order this anyway for future use.  Maybe it can be
used as a platform to take out the engine??  If anyone has one of
these, let me know how useful it is. .

However, I'm not sure if it will get here in time to be useful.   I'm
also not sure if it will help with the range of adjustments that I
need for the job.

I'm currently using a platform made out of plywood that consists of a
base plate that bolts onto the jack base hole and allows free movement
side to side.   The plywood base plate holds a piece of plumbing pipe
that serves as a roller to allow free movement of the trans front to
back.      A second piece of plywood attaches to the plumbing pipe
roller with metal holders that function as bearings.   The top piece
of plywood has holes in it for chains to secure the tranny and prevent
slipping.  With this setup, I can easily move the tranny into position
below the van and jack it up the proper height.  I'm running into
problems aligning the bolts because I can't roll and hold the trans in
place.  I am also have no means to lock the front and back position
into place.  Though, I may try to modify some C-Clamps for this.

I'm going to try again tomorrow.  However, I am hoping to collect some
advice on the idea of taking out the engine and connecting the engine
and trans together outside of the van.

Thanks.