Reinstalling transmission

[Matthew Jeschke]

Welp I got my transmission out. Now the question is can I get it back in. To get it out I separated the transfer case form the transmission and took them down separately.

I kind of want to put it all together in one piece now. I thought I could swing the tail housing / transfer case over the torsion spring bracket. Then bolt up the bell housing and lastly put back the transmission cross member (yeah there's a few other things too but just small details).

However, I got one of those harbor freight scissor jacks. Seems it broke trying to lift the whole assembly. Thank god I did a trial run before getting under the truck with it. I think I've lost all confidence in the scissor style jacks.

Curious though if I'm trying to also accomplish the impossible by lifting transmission and transfer case at once to install?

 

[swathdiver]

If you bench 500 go for it! LOL

Those adapters that get used with a floor jack can handle the weight, check the ratings, their are different ones.

 

[MassHoe04]

I did the transmission and transfer case as a single unit on my 05 Jeep Wrangler. Getting it down was not terrible. Maneuvering it to line up the splines with the clutch plate goin back in was a nightmare! I was able to lift it on the Harbor freight transmission jack, but the transfer case wanted to shift things to one side and lean back at an angle. The scissor jack was leaning on two wheels, which makes it hard to roll around when the two wheels actually touching the ground are kind of stuck with all the pressure on the sides of the wheel.

Wrestling with it, I was able to get it back in. However, the clunkiness of positioning the shaft ended up damaging one of the tines on the clutch plate. I never knew it happened. Clutch was fine for about a month. That was when the damaged tine on the pressure plate rubbed right through the new throwout bearing and all my work was done.

That is what forced me to a new vehicle, as I had to get transportation to work ASAP. That was how I ended up with the Tahoe.

If I had to do it over again, without having a lift or a professional transmission jack, I would probably go for the two units separately. I tried to save the time of disassembly and re-assembly on the transfer case, but that really didn't work out in the end. It would have taken longer, but I might have not damaged the clutch plate, had I been able to move the transmission in place with more control.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

My concern is trying to reach the bell housing bolts, the three behind the intake manifold. @swathdiver have you done this with the t case bolted up?

 

[swathdiver]

My concern is trying to reach the bell housing bolts, the three behind the intake manifold. @swathdiver have you done this with the t case bolted up?

Not yet. I'm going to have you and some of the other guys come over and do it! LOL

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

It's not too hard to get out haha Just really want to put it in as one piece and unsure if that will let me access those three pesky bolts up top.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

Got it all back in. I'm a bit silly... couple questions:

Question 1 Torque specs for six nuts that attach t-case ?

Instructions that came with the gasket said no RTV, and do not tighten over 8 ft lbs... Is that right??? That seems a little loose?

Question 2 Anybody have pictures of brackets on driver side of transmission?

I was so eager to swap the transmission that I didn't take an pictures. I cannot figure out how (1) the shifter cable is secured and (2) other items are screwed onto driver side of transmission.

 

[rockola1971]

Got it all back in. I'm a bit silly... couple questions:

Question 1 Torque specs for six nuts that attach t-case ?

Instructions that came with the gasket said no RTV, and do not tighten over 8 ft lbs... Is that right??? That seems a little loose?

Question 2 Anybody have pictures of brackets on driver side of transmission?

I was so eager to swap the transmission that I didn't take an pictures. I cannot figure out how (1) the shifter cable is secured and (2) other items are screwed onto driver side of transmission.

8 ft lbs is fine on those nuts, probably can even go 10-12. Remember you are dealing with studs threaded deep into aluminum. Doesnt have to be precise. Just dont use a 1/2" ratchet that is 18" long to tighten them.

Ill get you some pics of my 2003 as soon as the wife gets back with #1 Tahoe. #2 2003 Tahoe is torn apart. I have (2) 2003 Tahoe LT's that are the same color. One has a sunroof and the other has the entertainment system in place of where a sunroof would go. Funny story the #2 was seized by an Ohio Sheriff Dept from the original owners boyfriend. He decided to get pulled over with Heroine in the vehicle. Sheriff sold the Tahoe on ebay to me for like $2100 ! All it needed was a battery, windshield wipers and MAF sensor 1 month later after picking it up.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

I finally found it in all data. I had to click a link on the transmission install page. It took me to details on tcase install. Honestly, AllData is a ROYAL PITA to use, that aside, it's awesome to have. I believe it said to do 35 ft lbs. If it leaks cause of that dumb seal I'll just get a new seal.

Transmission is in and WORKING. I cannot believe it. Fired up on the first try and runs like a champ. My first ever automatic transmission build. Nearly 700 parts, spec'd, inspected, bought new, and or refurbished and works awesome!