With or Without Bellhousing for Tranny Install?

[Neuner]

I'm doing the typical wrestle with trying to get the tranny lined up and in. Getting it into the pilot bushing is my last obstacle. I'm attempting to do it with the bellhousing attached to the engine. If I attach it to the tranny instead, will I have an easier time?

 

[Only in a Jeep CJ]

I would say no. I attach the bell housing first, then install the Transmission BY ITS SELF.

If you leave the bell housing on the Transmission , You will need to line up the input shaft splines AND work with a larger package trying to raise it, lower it, and spin it to allign the main bolt dowels. With the bell housing already attached to the engine, the Transmission is easier to handle and once installed can be rotated to allign the 4 bolts. IF you get the Transmission body within a half inch of contacting the bell housing, you can tap it in with a dead blow hammer, push it with your feet (if the jeep is low), or gently suck it in with longer bolts.....be very careful and gentle with this.
I install the Transmission and the T case by hand. Its way easier than trying to allign and push forward a heavy load of them combined.

 

[mtnwhlr]

 

[Neuner]

Okay, thanks! Sounds like I'm on the right track. Was just under 1/2" of it mating up but just couldn't get it. I am German so I will give the bigger hammer a try.

 

[IOPort51]

I cut the heads off two 6" long bolts and thread them into the small end of the bell. It is a lot easier to line up with the bolts that you can see than the input shaft into the bushing. And you don't have to hold it up and try to line things up, the bolts will support the weight of the Transmission . Make sure the Transmission and TC are in low gear so you can turn the output to like up the splines on the clutch and the TC output can be turned to line up the input to the Transmission output. I put mu drive line into place in as small a pieces as possible. If a Transmission with a TC attached has a balance point, I have never found it.

The cleaner they are the easier they are to handle.

 

[Neuner]

Thanks IO. I like the idea of the bolts.

I was just soooooo close. I wouldn't even think about myself handing the Tranny and TC combined.

Think I may pickup some extra long bolts on the way home from work.

 

[Torxhead]

I always use a clutch alignment tool:clutch alignment tool | eBay

 

[CJ007]

It's usually not mating because you are not level. Try pushing it in with the back pushed up a little higher. I have had these battles on my back in my garage and it can get frustrating.
Then you finally do get it and realize you forgot the throw out or something. Lol!

 

[Hedgehog]

You MUST use a clutch alignment tool to set-up the clutch on the flywheel, you simply can't do it without the tool.

I install bell housing, throw out bearing, Transmission (with the top off) AND Transfer Case in one unit. Sure it's heavy, but any part of the thing will be heavy. I use the long bolt idea as well. I thread a rod to fit in the larger indexing threads located on the sides. I've never had help doing this. Don't be afraid, align the main shaft and stab the thing in the clutch, get it close jiggle the engine/Transmission and the thing will slide together. Don't use the bell housing bolts to draw things together.

 

[Bent]

I put mine in last time with the bellhousing installed on the engine. I couldn't get it to seat the last half inch with the bellhousing on the Transmission . I had to install the bellhousing and hook up the clutch. Then I had a buddy push the clutch down to release the clutch disk and I was able to wiggle the Transmission in to place.
The plastic alignment tool that comes with the clutch kits fit pretty loose.

 

[Neuner]

Then I had a buddy push the clutch down to release the clutch disk and I was able to wiggle the Transmission in to place.

I was thinking the same thing last night. Not a bad idea...

Then you finally do get it and realize you forgot the throw out or something. Lol!

That's funny. I was afraid of that so I wrote out all of the steps, even if they were simple, to follow along to make sure I didn't forget something. Couple of beers, sweat in your eyes and mosquitos flying around your head and you tend to do something like that.

Thanks for the tips, anxious to get back to wrestling this alligator in.

 

[IOPort51]

be careful not to drop your ball. Clutch arm pivot ball.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Can't get to the top b'housing bolts with tranny in place.
Hold the clutch ball in place with a dab of grease.
LG

 

[Neuner]

Figured out what I was doing wrong.

I brought it flowers and chocolates and caressed it gently when I really should have smacked my bitch up. The back-hand didn't do it so I had to pistol-whip it into submission. Hope it doesn't remember what happened and finally get the nerve to some day shoot me in the back when I'm not looking.

I thought it would kindof 'snap' into place once the bushing was in line? Instead I fought it all the way in. Hoping it's the grease/air bubble pocket behind the bushing giving resistance? There finally was a small bubble-gum pop the last 1/8" in.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Hope that 'pop' wasn't somedangthing break'n.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Can't get to the top b'housing bolts with tranny in place.
Hold the clutch ball in place with a dab of grease.
LG

I always get to those from the engine bay. It's actually fairly easy. I used to do the bolts from underneath, now I do ALL the Transmission bolts from above in the engine bay .... naturally the fenders are off. I can feel your need to correct me coming on. Not all the bolts go on from above. The dust/inspection cover and clutch bracket goes on from under the Jeep along with the starter, but those are relatively easy.

 

[Only in a Jeep CJ]

There are several transmissions in the CJs to TJs that don't have a separate bellhousing such as the automatics or AX15 or NV 3550 styles. You have to still reach the mounting bolts at the engine so I use a few long extensions and a swivel behind a 6 point socket. Usually a large ratchet is needed but it works like a champ for me. The belly pan is already off and the t case removed so there is room to lower the Transmission and tilt the engine a touch to expose the top 9/16ths bolts.

 

[Neuner]

Can't get to the top b'housing bolts with tranny in place.
Hold the clutch ball in place with a dab of grease.
LG

Do you always have a problem with your balls?

I've read of many who access the top bellhousing bolts with the tranny in place while doing engine swaps just like Hedgehog described.

 

[Posi]

I keep the bell and tranny as one unit. I bought a 1ft piece of 7/16" threaded rod, cut in half, add a couple nuts to one end, and use them to guide the b-housing to the engine. Much like IO. Makes life easy when working alone.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

I always do mine with the BH attached to the Transmission . I use 6" long bolts with the heads cut off to help align every thing and it works great. for the top 2 bolts I wait till every thing else is out and use a jack to tilt the Transmission down just a tad so I can see the top bolts. then 17ish extensions will allow you to reach the bolts from the under side. I remove the top bolts, level the motor and Transmission then remove the lowers. Im pretty sure the alignment tools should be a pretty snug fit. if its loose your clutch can be off a little bit causing clearance issues with the pilot bearing.