Thanks.

 

There's so little to it that I doubt anyone has written it up. Besides the obvious, a couple of tips though: remember to drain it out prior to removing it. Tilt the whole motor down as the final step before sliding it out backwards. Don't forget to remove the electrical connectors. Basically, just disconnect everything connected to it, take out all the bellhousing bolts, and slide it out. It can be hard to reach a couple of the bolts, especially at the upper left. Use a long extension and a "wobbler" (U-joint) on your socket.

Any specific questions?

Rich Krause

 

Yeah, the importance of torquing the the transmission-to-engine bolts and torque converter-to-driveplate bolts to 35 and 46 ft-lbs? My dad is gonna be spearheading this operation with my assistance. He just says use the impact and go on. NOTHING at all can go wrong. Because I'm driving up to St. Louis July 3rd. Kinda a time crunch.

 

Hopefully you can get it out with 3/8s drive stuff. With 3/8s and 125 psi on the air gun they wouldn't budge. 1/2 drive zipped it right off though.

 

Are you saying you plan to tighten the bolts with an impact gun?
I wouldn't.. I'd torque them properly..
Or at least hand tighten them using 'feel' [from experience] to tighten them properly..
Too tight they may shear off.. then you get to do it all again..

 

How do you "torque" the bolts properly? How do you know when you've reached that certain number of ft-lbs?

 

A torque wrench works well..
Or doing them manually, with a wrench [after a 'few' years of doing this stuff, I can get it close just by 'feel'..]
A lot closer than cranking it with an air impact...
I highly recommend torque wrench, or at least do it 'by hand'..

 

I agree with the above. Torque on these types of fasteners isn't critical though, and it's not easy to get an accurate torque reading when it's already hard to get to the fastener. In this case, tight but not too tight should do it.

Rich Krause

 

What the Doc said.

With so many extensions, swivels, etc a torque wrench is useless. A tad above medium-tight works fine.

 

Yeah, my dad is a very big guy and he had some trouble on the torque converter-to-driveplate bolts. We took it out tonight. Roughly 2.5 hours or so.

 

Just to clarify: if I am installing a tranny with the motor out, I will use a torque wrench. But if it's with the motor in the car it's not practical or necessary.

Rich

 

Ah, ok. The LT1 is still in the car. We're just gonna throw the tranny back up there and bolt it on again.