Advice on tranny swap

[bigbadfords]

Hey guys, just want some advice here before I do my tranny swap. The tranny in my '96 is junk but I have a '97 parts sho with a bad engine that only has 45K miles on it, so the tranny is perfect. I never pulled a tranny out of a front wheel drive car before, so I got a price from a good mechanic in my area, he will do the total job for $600, that includes pulling the good tranny out of the parts car, pulling my junk tranny and then installing the good one into my car. My question is would it be worth it to pay that price for the job or would I be better off doing it myself for that price? I wouldn't hesitate to do it myself because I have swaped trans. and engines several times in my life without problems, but I am kind of ''afraid'' to tackle this job myself because this is actually the first front wheel drive car I have owned and have little experience working on fwd cars. Thanks guys!

 

[lowc]

doesnt sound like a bad price to me. the "book" says its about 8hours to replace a trany so that comes out to roughly between 70 and 75 bucks an hour. if you were to do it your self would you be using a lift? on these fwds you have to lossen the subframe and in some cases you need to swing it to one side to make the clearence you need. although i think on these you can lossen one side and sneak the trany out that way.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Thats cheap...

 

[bigbadfords]

No, I don't have a lift, which was one of the main reasons I would prefer not to do it myself. I'm sure the job could be done without a lift, but it would save a lot of time and hassle with the car up on a lift.

 

[kvm101]

I had my 89 SHO trans out in my home garage (clutch). My 93 SHO atx once out on a lift the 2nd time home. You need the support across the strut towers to support the engine when the cradle is out. There pricey!! I've know one guy used 4x4 cut to length to go across. You'll need torch set to heat and loosen Y pipe bolts. Thats whats holding me up now to do my 97 SHO. Loosen the tran bolts to the block 1st so the motor is not moving so much when hanging from the strut tower brace. The steering rack and engine mnts are bolted to the subframe. Do your homework and you should be able to do it. Ive lowered the subframe, then later the trans with my floor jack. They make a trans jack adapter thats fits on floor jacks. Much better to adjust tilt etc... Floor jack, mini jack stands and a descent set of tools, thats what I use. Good tools nothing thats going to snap or round off abolt head. Snap on Mac & matco in my set. To many years at collision centers you sart to aquire the nessecary things to repair your own stuff. Got rid of alot of bodytools but not my mechanical stuff.
Love wrenching just can't find the time.
BTW Does the 600 include fluid ,new trans filter, etc....

 

[bigbadfords]

yes, $600 includes the new fluid and filter. I know what you mean about a guy using the 4x4 for support but where exactly did he put the 4x4 to support the engine??

 

[kvm101]

When you open the hood look for the strut towers. Look for the rail were the fender bolts to. You'll need to use that edge for support. The strut towers sit to far back to safely secure the engine ( in fact the motor will follow the brace and pull towards the firewall then it will get tough to get it lined up for the cradle when reassembling). You want to basically set up a bridge running off the inner fender rails (the inside edge of the fenders) A 12'' 4x4 along the inside edge left and rightside running length wise with the fenders. Then a 4x4 across the top which will be high enough not to dent the top of your fenders. Fastend securely all the boards (if you know a descent carpenter get his help).
If you run a search on strut tower braces you'll get the idea. In fact there may be a youtube out there on someone taking out a fwd trans.
If you've had rwd trans out you can figuere this. Hope you got a garage!!!

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Just pay it, it's a good price. I would charge you $750 just to R&R the tranny in your car, plus another $200-$300 to cut the donor tranny out of another car.

 

[stephen newberg]

I agree, if they guy seems to know what he is about, that is a good price and way better than trying to do it yourself if you do not have the right gear, not to mention the time that would be needed and things that can go wrong if you have never done it before.

pax, smn