Date:         Tue, 17 Aug 2004 00:28:26 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Auto Trans Install - Take Out Engine?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

What are you using to hold the engine up? I used a bottle jack (could've
just as easily been a floor jack doesn't matter), and, as somebody
previously described, I used it to lower the engine a bit to make that part
of it easier. IIRC, I ran into the same problem, and what I did was I went
ahead and got the stud that would mate up just into the hole about a
quarter-inch or so, and then I gently jacked up some more on the tranny.
This made the first stud act as a lever point- the tranny sort of rotated on
that stud a bit and I was able to man-handle it onto the other stud without
much trouble. Gently is key, tho- you don't want to bend the first stud or
'booger up the threads', as somebody put it.

If you have the engine on blocks or some other immovable brace, a bottle
jack in a case or a small floor jack will run you 20-30 bucks at Wally
world, or wherever. I've found the bottle jack to be quite useful/versatile
in situations where there wasn't room enough for a floor jack (plus they're
real easy to store in the vehicle).

Once you have both studs in the holes, gently jack both engine and tranny up
together/alternately with the two jacks. This should push the mating
surfaces together- I believe I had to put the bolts on and (gently, again)
tighten them up bit by bit to close the gap. Then I was able to put the
forward tranny mount bolt in. From there it was gravy.

Seems to me you're about ten minutes and a bit of luck from getting the
tranny in- if you pull the motor, you're another two days from it. The
mechanic may have found it 'easier' to do it that way because he had an
engine lift or something, or more likely he saw a chance to inflate the
bill.

You're right there- don't give up!

Good luck,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Oda" <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 9:49 PM
Subject: Auto Trans Install - Take Out Engine?


> 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.