Drop Whole Subframe with Engine/Tranny

[lithy]

Ok so its my first post and I tried to do enough searching to make sure this wasn't already covered. There are quite a few posts I learned things from but still have a few more specific questions.

My 500 dollar 93 Green MTX SHO has a big ol' hole in the trans case right above the shift linkage. So I've gotten myself a replacement tranny (2 actually, second one for goodies when I'm a little richer ) And I'm going to replace it myself with the help of a friend. But I've gotten to thinking I should maybe drop the whole subframe and get everything on the front end nice and cleaned up because it spent its life up until last year in NH, (then GA now to me in TN) so there's some rust I'm working on cleaning/patching up.

So, is it possible to drop the whole subframe engine and tranny out from under the car. I'm assuming if I just prep the engine and tranny like they were going to be pulled and then drop the subframe it would all come out together, but I don't want to assume and end up with a big mess on my hands.

If its easier to leave the engine up and just drop the trans with the subframe I might do that but I'd like to get the whole engine bay cleaned up.

Thanks for any input, hopefully will use this opportunity to do a few upgrades while everything is out of the car. Its stock to this point besides a front strut tower bar and a K&N cone filter done by the previous owner.

 

[Bringetto]

Im in a darn close situation as you are, i too have a hole in my tranny near the shift linkage, its from the differential pin escaping its home and busting out the door. The method we are doing is to lower the subframe on the passenger side and remove it on the drivers side and slip the tranny out though the drivers side. There is only 5 ( i think) bolts on the tanny to the motor so its a whole lot eaiser to leave the motor up there (trust me). I havent gotten the tranny out yet (ive been interuped by tow calls all weekend) but when i do ill give you some pics and ill tell you some tips on how to get her out. I hope this helps. Good luck

 

[lithy]

Im in a darn close situation as you are, i too have a hole in my tranny near the shift linkage, its from the differential pin escaping its home and busting out the door. The method we are doing is to lower the subframe on the passenger side and remove it on the drivers side and slip the tranny out though the drivers side. There is only 5 ( i think) bolts on the tanny to the motor so its a whole lot eaiser to leave the motor up there (trust me). I havent gotten the tranny out yet (ive been interuped by tow calls all weekend) but when i do ill give you some pics and ill tell you some tips on how to get her out. I hope this helps. Good luck

Thanks a lot, I'm still not sure how the hole in mine got there, it was there when I bought it, and it doesn't seem to be the diff pin because I can still drive it and shift through all the gears. I didn't think that'd be possible with a blown diff pin.

And as for the subframe, so maybe I'll look to remove the whole subframe and trans but leave the engine up? I know there is a whole boatload of stuff hooked up to and holding up the engine so it may be less of a headache to not drop it.

 

[Bringetto]

i can drive mine too, just it diff doesnt work, and yes, just leave to motor up there

 

[sho_sc]

I know that some on here with disagree, but it's a PITA dropping the whole assembly at once, if you are going to put it back (junking one is different). I can swap out a tranny in 1 day, can't do a whole motor in that amount of time ...

 

[Mr Anonymous]

With an MTX car, I'm on the fence as to which way is easier. The last couple MTX motor jobs I've done I've yanked the motor and tranny out the top because the lift was tied up and I didn't feel like taking the front bumper cover off to use the forklift. Either way takes me about the same amount of time and effort.

If you've never done a V6 SHO motor swap before, then I'd say drop the thing out the bottom as a whole as it will make putting everything back together for the first time a litle easier for you.

 

[Minnesho]

i just did mine in the driveway with jackstands, by myself too. dropped the subframe pulled the Y-pipe etc, dropping the entire subframe is much easier then trying to wrestle the trans through the fender well IMHO, besides i was then able to clean up the subframe and install my ASFB on all four corners. the subframe had shifted almost an inch from its factory locations so in my case it was better to drop the whole thing.

 

[Bringetto]

Hey Minnesho

Whats a ASFB A**** subframe bushing??

And also i pulled out the whole subframe and droped the tranny, after the tierods were off it was stupidly simple/easy

 

[Minnesho]

Hey Minnesho

Whats a ASFB A**** subframe bushing??

Aluminum SubFrame Bushing