Can't get transmission in?
 

I have struggled trying to get my transmission back in my car for about 3 hours now and still had no luck. I'm noto sure if I'm just not lining something up right or if there is a little trick I need to know. Anybody have any suggestions? I get it to where it is basically in except for maybe half an inch and I can't get it in any further. It is almost like the input shaft is going in so far but I can't get it and the clutch spindle to line up. Please help.

Try jacking the front of the engine up. This gives you a bit more wiggle room.

Don't jack up on the oil pan though!

^ What he said.

Plus, a little trick I use sometimes in conjunction with the above, is to put the transmission in gear and rotate the output shaft a little bit at a time 'till it pops in.

That's what she said.

I'll give jacking the engine up in the front a shot. I did try rotating the output shaft some but it rotated until it stopped because I believe it was in a bind.

+1 on jacking up the front of the engine, even then its no picnic....I will strongly consider pulling the motor when/if I need to service the trans again.

Borrow a buddy, its very hard with one person.

did you use a clutch alignment tool( if your eplcaed the clutch?)

Next time I need to take the trans out I probably will pull the motor. It seems easier honestly. I actually had help from a friend but no luck. Yea I used the clutch alignment tool when I put the clutch in so I wouldn't think that is the problem.

i +1 the buddy system. i had the same problem with my trans swap until i dragged my girl out to watch from the engine bay and give me directions.

It'll go in if you just keep playing with it. Jack the engine up as far as you can, and keep pushing, wiggling it. It's just a PITA.

YOu need someone to push the engine toward the rear of the car, it will slide right in.. I have had to do it before by myself and used Ratchet straps to pull it as far back as possible.

Pull the transmission out and see if your clutch alignment tool slides in easily. I mean all the way. I've also seen people pack the pilot bearing hole with grease so much that the snout of the transmission input shaft won't go in since the grease has nowhere to go. Also, make sure you have the throwout bearing properly installed on the transmission, and that it slides freely. A little grease will make things slide better here.

All that aside, it is easier with a friend to help align you from up top, then after you're aligned, to help push the transmission while you support it. Leave the trans in gear, slip the driveshaft in and have your buddy wiggle the driveshaft back and forth while pushing to get the splines lined up. Jacking up the front of the engine will help, but don't go overboard with it. Then, while you're supporting it and it's all the way in, your buddy can help install a couple bolts so it doesn't sip out again.

I don't believe that there's any way in hell I'd ever pull the engine and transmission just to change a clutch or do transmission work. It takes me about 3 hours by myself to change the clutch in my car. At least triple that if you have to pull the engine. I still have AC, so those long bolts on the driver's side are a bigger pain in the ass than anything on the transmission.

I had the same problem with mine, just get a friend to help, jack the front of the engine up and what I did was get the top tranny bolt in then pull down on the back of the tranny and got the bottom two bolts in and just slowly screwed all three bolts in and then the tranny just almost popped in and I could slide it on easily.

The transmission just needs a lil tap to get in. N/a transmissions are easy to bench press on, but TII are just a cunt hair heavier.

You shouldn't have a problem because when you get the input shaft into the clutch disc, you will know. So just line up the bolt holes then push in with some force like putting an axle in a fwd transmission.

My hat goes off to you sir! We had 3 guys and it still took 6 hours, granted we also replaced every seal in the trans/engine and did that PITA shifter return spring, but I'm sure more than half of that time was spent trying to get the trans reinstalled.

Speaking of annoying bolts....whatever jackass last reinstalled the trans in my car apparently did so w/o the UIM installed as one of the bolts under the manifold was installed from the engine side.....needless to say we had to pull the UIM.

i just did this man u have to shake it and wiggggggil it and just move it but make shur u push it in at the same time

use the long starter mount bolt and longer top trans bellhousing bolt as guides to the block, ya newbs!

I beg to differ. I have seen to many people do this improperly and snap the rear bolt hole on the engine iron. Only do this once you know the trans input shaft is correctly inside the engine.

Have you checked the pilot bearing to See of you Squished the shit out of it?
If the 'alignment' of the Transmission and engine are not 'just so' then you risk squishing the Pilot bearing with the Input shaft,..and that is why the engine and trans will not mate.
Double check that to make sure.
.......
when you Install the Transmission,make sure that the Clutch and pressure plate are On correctly,so that the input shaft can slip through them and into the Pilot bearing and eccentric shaft.
If you Tilt the Engine UP at the front and DOWN at the rear( Firewall) then you can mate the Transmission to the Engine More easily...Try it Without the transmission's crossmember on it,to make handling a little easier.
I did Both the NA and the TII by Myself,,and I am "disabled".(3 shot vertebrae/Discs)..I laid on my back and put the Trans on my Belly,then used my Legs to lift the Bell housing up,and shoved on the Tail of the transmission and fed it into the Rear of the engine.Once it was in place I moved out of there,and it held up while I put bolts on.
It IS alot easier with TWO people..trust me!

At least you're not trying to one man a tii mtx in a vert with that damn k-member...ugg getting tired of doing that.

the pilot bearing is pretty back in the flywheel, i'm sure he's just not man beasting it hard enough. Just curious is this n/a or tii?

You never, ever do this. If something is misaligned you'll be tearing it all back out anyway.

For the future, if you are not using a transmission jack, you are suffering needlessly.

And when you jack up the front of the engine, jack against the pulleys. Use a 2x4 cut to the right length. Doesn't take much pressure to tilt the engine on it's mounts.

I'm betting that the alinging tool did not go into the pilot brg. if it was it would go in ,, I would loosen off the pressure plate get the aligning shaft into the clutch and pilot brg ,,Snug the pressure plate just a tad then work the aligning shaft around in a circular motion till there is no resistance then tighten bolts then try the aligning shaft again to make sure every thing is straight .. Dont use the bolts to pull the trans in if there is any resistance at all .. Lots of guys fuck stuff up doing that it should go in by hand .. then put the bolts in .. If you need something to help align the trans cut the heads off a couple of spare bolts and screw them into the engine housing that will give you something to go by ,, just make sure they are long enough so they can be removed after the trans is in place ( maybe cut a slot in the end of the stud so you can remove with a screwdriver ) .. also make sure the pilot brg will slide over the trans stub shaft .. before installing the trans..not after it is halfway in :)

I will check all this stuff and see if I can't get it in. I'm getting ready to go give it another try now. It is a TII by the way.