Hey guys... i was in the process of removing my transmission (manual) tonight (what a nightmare) in my 1997 Trans Am. Ive got it all unbolted and have it pulled out about an inch from the bellhousing, but it just wont budge anymore. Ive tried raising and lowering the tranny, raising and lowering the engine, and it still wont move. When you look up into the space between the tranny and the bell i can see the clutch, the pilot bearing, and the clutch fork. The clutch fork is more towards the clutch. ( i also took off the hydraulic plunger that pushes the clutch fork in/out) Did i miss a step? Is the clutch fork and pilot bearing supposed to be more towards the tranny than clutch? or do i just need to do some more wiggle/wobble/yank/pry on that s.o.b.? Please HELP ME! ive shed too much blood tonight on my own body, i dont want to go through that again. Thanks in advance!
-Justin

 

TTT for the night....

 

Did you disengage the clutch fork??

 

you need to pull the clutch fork backwards, it just slides out. There is a spring like part that keeps it in place. Just pull the clutch fork away from the tranny perpendicular to the input shaft. The tranny wont come out if the clutch fork is still in the throwout bearing.

 

I believe its easier to remove the tranny and bellhousing together... got mine out in under 2 hrs by myself the first time. Do as others said with the clutch fork and if that doesnt work then try putting it back together and take the tranny/bellhousing off as a single unit.

 

it won't come off with the clutch fork on the throwout bearing. i went ahead and took the fork all the way out... btw did you take your shift lever off?

 

I was about to ask the same question!

 

Yes the first thing I did was take off the shifter. I think the clutch fork is what is holding me back. Thanks for the help!!!

 

i went through this same dilemma just a couple hours ago. what a nightmare. luckily i had an uncle that after looking at it for 5 minutes figured everything out and had the tranny on the ground in minutes after i had been wrenching and cussing at it for 4 hours getting no where. you gotta get the trans lined up just right and that fork pops right out.

 

did you remove the entire shifter, or just the stick?
the whole shifter assembly has to be removed as well.