Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) SBC install lessons learned

[A-bomb]

Some folks may think pulling the transmission (NV4500) is no biggy, but doing it on the driveway in the snow is not as easy as some would portray. Anyway some of the key things I wanted to point out for future searchs are listed as follows:

1. transmission/frame support is very difficult to remove and install without a frame spreader. I found it easiest to romove it and instatall in from the rear. I supported the transfere cast and transmission with a large tie down strap wraped around the frame rails and then routed under the transfere case tail housing.

2. The book says to remove the transfere case then remove the transmission. I removed both at the same time. They are heavy. I unbolted the transmission at the bell housing. droping the transmission is tricky and realy requiers a transmission jack. However I spent 3 days bulding a transmission support attached to an ATV jack. The transmission needs to tilt about 30 degrees downward to remove it from the bell housing. The clearance for the shift tower are nonexistant. So, as you pull the transmission back you have to tilt it as much as possible to get the shift tower to clear the opening of the floor board. I actually bent the floor board sheet metal while removing it. I did this by myself and used pulleys and ratcheting tie downs to pull an manuver the transmission out of the way. This was not an easy task to perform alone. Reinstalling it is twice as difficult as removing it. Getting it perfectly aligned by tilting the engine with a jack while manuvering and tilting the transmission is very hard to do on the ground in the snow with out any help. It took me two full days to get it stabbed (about 14 hours of trying). Maybe having a transmission jack would have helped, but my driveway surface is rough, so it made it difficult to roll the jack in small increments to get everything lined up. I actually said a bad word or two while doing this. I noticed my neigbors kept their kids inside while I had words with the transmission.

3. Installing the new SBC clutch was straght forward, but take extreme care to make sure the pressure plate and clutch splines are perefectly centered or stabbin the transmission will be impossible.

4. And finally, dont do this alone unles you have the right tools, or have the ability to make the right tools, and have lots ot time or patience. This is the third time I have done this transmission and do not plan on doing it again. I think it is worth the $300 most shops would charge to do the job. I know a very good and reliable private shop with reasonable rates in Brighton, Colorado. If anyone is interested PM me and I will tell you who and where.



The installed clutch works fantastically smoth and seems to be holding the horspower. The one I installed is the 350-450 hp con ofe 13".



By the way, I have a good used stock pressure plate available if any one needs one. It needs to be turned. PM me if interested.



Here are some photos.

 

[A-bomb]

one more photo

Here is another photo that may better help explain how to get the transmission support out. Again, it is hard to get out and install, but taking out and putting it in from the rear seemed to work best.



As a side note, I ran royal purple in the transmission for about 500 miles and noticed I could feel the gears thru the shift lever and had a harder time shifting. After draining the fluid there were some slivers of metal on the mag stick I did not like. So, I decided to put the Syn-go PN SL2496 back in the transmission and it shifts much better. However, the royal purple seems to be working well in the limited slip differential.



My next task is to rebuild the transmission in my 1977 911s, but that's for different web site.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I too did my own clutch swap (LUK Cerametallic) - and used a motorcycle hoist rated at 1500 lbs for the job, after fabricating a wooden cradle to hold the transmission in position. I did mine in late summer on a cement garage floor - sure wouldn't wanna do it the way you did!



The motorcycle hoist was sweet, extremely easy to lift and manuever - and the greatest piece of advice for those doing this job on their own, RAISE the front of the truck as high as you can, you'll need the clearance to properly lower the transmission and move it out of the way so you can access the flywheel area, and raising the front of the truck delivers the rearward tilt needed for trany removal/reinstall.

And be sure to also provide proper support for the FRONT of the engine for when the transmission and rear engine support is removed - plus, a jack at the front of the engine allows it to be lifted slightly for an even better angle...

 

[moparguy]

A, consider my hat tipped to you. My brother and I did mine in the shop with a transmission jack we picked up at a auction, best $120 I've spent in a while. It was a no fun job even with help. You get a second A for doing it the hard way.



Glad it turned out OK.



RJR

 

[Fred Swanson]

Wow! I wouldn't wish that on anyone. That takes patience to spend 14 hours trying. If you pull the transmission with the bell housing, the angles are easier and the alignment is easier.

Just to reflect. I do these with my lift and transmission jack, and it averages about 3 hours start to finish. I pull the entire assembly. I made a special plate to bolt to the jack base plate and the transmission mount on the rear of the transmission that keeps it real secure while doing the work.

A big hammer works best for the cross member without a spreader for removing and installing. Beat it in and out.

I've done a few of these on the ground, not fun at all!

 

[C. Harlan]

I have dropped my transmission about 4 times, in the past 2 years, and never had that many problems. The last time, I dropped it by myself. It is just a slow, meticulous process, and you must be careful to go step by step, and not try to get too ahead of yourself! Now that the SBC is installed, how do ya like it?



-Chris-

 

[A-bomb]

C. Harlan,



This is my second SBC. I had one of the first cermic clutchs they made and it was pretty grabby. This one is very smooth. The new pressure plate makes the actuation much easier than the stock pressure plate. However, it seems that it is a little more difficult to get into gear. I suspect this is due to a little thicker material on the clutch. Im sure it will break in soon enough. It feels like it is engaging at the top of the pedal movement, so I would not think there is too much room to adjust more movement into the clutch.

 

[Dull Pain]

Kudos to you! Made me relive some trying times as I did this about 3 months ago - by myself as well. Was in garage on smooth concrete and had borrowed a transmission jack that was of dubious quality , but could not have done it without. Had to fab special plates to mate to transmission jack, used same clutch as you.



I don't know how you did it on gravel, glad I was not around to hear your comments, I'm sure I would have blushed!!!!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

AS to the working on dirt/gravel bit with a transmission jack - the LEAST ya need do is use a piece of plywood to support the jack and allow reasonable manueverability...

 

[A-bomb]

Gary,

I thought about that, but then thought the weight of the transmission on the wheels would indent the plywood so bad it would be more difficult to manuver. Anyway my driveway is actually concrete, but has a pretty rough texture to it, thereby making the wheels on the jack hard to roll in small increments. I thought about using a piece of 22ga plate steel, but steel prices are outrageous and the price of the steel would have been enough to pay a shop to do it. Which, by the way, I will gladly pay the $300 next time.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

man... on the ground in the snow!??! you're a trooper for sure! does NOT sound like fun!!



I did mine in the driveway this spring... wasn't really that bad w/ a transmission jack. didn't even have to jack my 2wd truck up.



Forrest

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"I thought about that, but then thought the weight of the transmission on the wheels would indent the plywood so bad it would be more difficult to manuver. "



I've had to do it that way in past years - a lot depends on the size of the jack rollers, the weight of the transmission, and the thickness/quality of the plywood. In my case, all elements were manageable - and LOTS easier than the dirt/gravel/snow some are discussing here!

 

[A-bomb]

I appreciate all the comments here. Just wanted to make sure that the real lessons learned I was trying to point out are: 1 The frame support is difficult to get out and seemed easiest to remove from the rear and 2 The transmission needs a lot of tilt to remove and doing so is not easy to accomplish without proper equipment.



Glad to hear so many have had good experiences with this job. Just wanted to make sure that if some one new to doing the job did a search and found this thread they would not be overwhelmed at these two steps. We often dont hear the details and struggling thru a major project and I hope to enlighten folks as I encounter them.



Another good example of how things are not always so rosey is Joe D's article on removing the dash in this months TDR. I have partially removed one myself and the nuts holding the thing on the passenger side are extremely difficult. They obviously pre-assmble this before it goes into the truck at the plant, thereby predisposing a real challange to remove in the real world.



So the struggle and rewards continue as we keep our beloved oil burning beasts alive.

 

[WDaniels]

Good job A-Bomb,

But one question for anyone. What are you talking about a frame spreader. I've removed my xmission 4 times, 3 all by myself and it is the easiest xmission I've ever done, other than the weight. I'm stumped as to why you need a frame spreader.

WD

 

[A-bomb]

Daniels,



The frame spreader is a hydrualic or pnuematic jack used to very slightly spread the frame rails apart so that you can easily remove the cross member without beating it to death with an inertial transfere device ( big hammer) :-laf .

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I actually said a bad word or two while doing this. I noticed my neighbors kept their kids inside while I had words with the transmission.

That's some funny stuff! The mental images that conjures up is hilarious. I can picture a guy out in a driveway on a creeper under a Dodge... the weather is cold and with the snow on the ground, it's obvious he'd rather be doing something else... anything else.



From underneath the truck were these obscenities... the likes of which haven't been seen since a flock of drunken sailors got together with a group of truckers. The neighbors winced, quickly ran out to gather up their children standing in shock by the freshly created snowman and ran back to the confines of their houses - hands over the little one's ears.



Inside the house the heads of the households convene in the livingroom while the young ones hug their cartoon decorated ceramic mugs filled with hot chocolate. Dad can relate to 'that guy under the truck'. Mom concedes... she knows that changing a clutch in the snow on a Dodge is better than owning a F*rd.



Matt

 

[AfterBurner]

Holy Cow! you have a lot more patients than I ever would have had.

We used a hi-lift jack to spread the frame, worked great. had no transmission lift and just about got attacked by it once it cleared the bell housing It came crashing down with a lot of racket. getting it back up was a whole nother trick. I don't know how i would have done it by myself.

heres to all you guys who manage it by your lonesome