Getting to trans bolts with engine in the car?

[Nick_S]

One of the main things I've learned in doing my swap...I get impatient and rush things and often have to go back and redo them. Case in point here. I installed the motor after I pulled the M42 but didn't install it with the trans as I wasn't sure which I was using at that point. I installed the trans separate and while I can easily get to most of the bolts, the upper corner ones I cannot get to to tighten them. Even pulled the transmission mounts off so I could move it around a bit. Am I going to have to pull the whole damn thing out again? I've already got it filled with coolant and bled and would rather not have to drain, disconnect the harness and pull the whole things to get to a few bolts. I need to slow down when I'm working.

The bolt up here

[Steven]

You can't reach it with a very long extension?

[Nick_S]

No, not even with a swivel joint on a long extension could I get onto it. The car is on E28 green mounts with about 5mm of spacers and stock G240 trans mounts. I have to be doing something wrong but I spent about 45 minutes trying and I couldn't get the socket to seat the bolt, or if I did, soon I turned it it would pop off.

[36brua]

That bolt is tough- use a pry bar to compress/bend the heat shield in the tunnel to get a bit more room. use a 36" long extension- (made for trans work) with universal joint/socket at bolt end. make sure bolt is clean etc. It also helps to raise the front of the engine, loosen/remove mount bolts at subframe give a bit more room and better angle.
go slow and make sure bolt is not cross threaded. GL

[mitchlevy7]

loosen the engine mounts a bunch and use a bunch of extensions...

[arch4ngel]

I figured this out while doing the clutch on an m20,your mileage may vary.
Pull a subframe bolt, go to hardware store, get 4 longer bolts with same thread pitch.
Support the engine with hoist or jack, replace subframe bolts with longer ones.
Carefully lower engine/subframe onto extended bolts watching for ground straps, hoses etc.

There should be plenty of room.

[Swanny]

^this. Have the luxury of an engine support bar so I can drop the subframe and get more room that way.

[Cletonius]

I need to get one of those bars. How much are they?

[Nick_S]

I figured this out while doing the clutch on an m20,your mileage may vary.
Pull a subframe bolt, go to hardware store, get 4 longer bolts with same thread pitch.
Support the engine with hoist or jack, replace subframe bolts with longer ones.
Carefully lower engine/subframe onto extended bolts watching for ground straps, hoses etc.

There should be plenty of room.

Good shit man. Thanks for the advice. Quick question. Would pulling the engine mounts totally out and letting it down the couple inches create enough room Also?

^this. Have the luxury of an engine support bar so I can drop the subframe and get more room that way.

Like one of these?


The car is at my friends repair shop he owns so I have access to 3 lifts, engine hoists, tranny jacks...really about any tool under the sun. However I'm working alone on the weekends so I'm still learning ALOT as the most I had done before this was brakes and oil changes. The good thing, his shop shares a parking lot with a NAPA store so if I need parts I walk 60 ft.

[Swanny]

That is exactly what I'm talking about

[arch4ngel]

No worries.
Good question, I wouldn't think so but might be worth a try.
With the longer bolts you have the peace of mind knowing you're motor and subframe are being supported properly while you work.

[Poeman446]

On the M20 and Getrag 260, I took off the trans brace on the rear of the engine, had a buddy pull down on the back of the trans pretty hard, and I had 20" of 1/2" drive extensions with a knuckle, 1/2" to 3/8" drive adapter and the torx socket. It was quite a setup. It wasn't easy, that's for sure, but it could have been much harder. The super long extensions are a must, and I would recommend going even longer than 20". Good Luck!

[Poorboyz]

I took off the trans brace on the rear of the engine, had a buddy pull down on the back of the trans pretty hard

And that is how you tear up engine mounts...



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[Poeman446]

Of course it is, but it was a junkyard car, so I didn't give a shit. I suppose I should have mentioned that in the post. I would take the nuts off of the motor mounts and use a hoist to pull it off the mounts, and then try the same thing. You just have to be careful with the cooling system and electrical connections.

[RoadHazard]

I've pulled the tranny a couple times by myself using arch4ngel's method. Without those long bolts, you'd have a hard time getting the holes on the subframe to line up when putting everything back together.

When you install the tranny, you might want to grab another two long bolts then cut the heads off. Screw those in a couple tranny bolt holes and use them as a guide to slide the tranny in.