With or Without Bellhousing for Tranny Install?

[Lumpy Grits]

6cly, with T-5 . The top 3 bell-housing bolts for me, are all but impossible to get to till the tranny is out. Not enough room to 'swing' a wrench.
The other advantage to putting the b'housing in first is, for me. It's easier to line the tranny up using long bolts to guide the tranny in place.
This has worked well for me on quite a few Jeep.
LH

 

[Hedgehog]

But we are not talking about an I-6, we are talking about a AMC 304 . As written before, I also use pins as guides, but for the bell housing not the Transmission .

I find the Transmission /Transfer Case attachment to be an ackward mess to deal with, so attaching them in a stress free environment on the bench along with the bell housing, throw out bearing and fork to be less problematic. Then bolt the Transmission /Transfer Case mount to a plate mounted on a floor jack. Slide the whole unit under the jeep, jack it up more or less in place, but back. Use the movement of both the engine and the Transmission to wiggle both into alignment and suddenly bang they are together. Set a couple loose bolts, leave them loose to help wriggle the engine Transmission to aid in the removal of the alignment pins. Put the cross member loosely in place, then start methodicly tightening the bellhousing bolts. Then set the crossmember and Transmission /Transfer Case mount. During the process I move the clutch fork to make sure that is loose when it's supposed to be and tight at the right time. Sounds simple and it actually is along with being physically demanding at times.

 

[Petescj]

I have an automatic. I find removing the bell housing troublesome.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

But we are not talking about an I-6, we are talking about a AMC 304 . As written before, I also use pins as guides, but for the bell housing not the Transmission .

I find the Transmission /Transfer Case attachment to be an ackward mess to deal with, so attaching them in a stress free environment on the bench along with the bell housing, throw out bearing and fork to be less problematic. Then bolt the Transmission /Transfer Case mount to a plate mounted on a floor jack. Slide the whole unit under the jeep, jack it up more or less in place, but back. Use the movement of both the engine and the Transmission to wiggle both into alignment and suddenly bang they are together. Set a couple loose bolts, leave them loose to help wriggle the engine Transmission to aid in the removal of the alignment pins. Put the cross member loosely in place, then start methodicly tightening the bellhousing bolts. Then set the crossmember and Transmission /Transfer Case mount. During the process I move the clutch fork to make sure that is loose when it's supposed to be and tight at the right time. Sounds simple and it actually is along with being physically demanding at times.

The OP has a 6.
Petescj-Much easier after you remove the muffler bearings.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

I stand corrected, I thought I'd looked back and saw he was dealing with a AMC 304 . The method is still sound though.

 

[mtnwhlr]

What works best for one person may not for the next person that is why you just to try it different ways until you find what works best for you.

 

[Posi]

6cly, with T-5 . The top 3 bell-housing bolts for me, are all but impossible to get to till the tranny is out. Not enough room to 'swing' a wrench.
LH

The CJ I'm restoring now came to me with a 6cyl and light duty T-5 . I simply lowered the tranny slightly and removed the top bolts without issue. Pulled the bell and tranny out in one piece.

 

[IOPort51]

I have counted and experimented and there is, in reality,only one way to skin a cat.

 

[Hedgehog]

And that would be MY way ........