Is it possible? I'm installing an ACT 4 Puck clutch and 12lb flywheel today and don't feel like going and buying a transmission jack adapter.

 

Yep. You will need at least two people. Good luck!

 

Yeah, they are not that heavy. I've done a tranny/clutch swap all by myself. I would also reccomend 2 people though.

 

Same here, as long as everything is out of the way you should be able to get a conventional jack with a piece of wood on it, or just normal and balance it with your hands, then lower it down and you got it

-Andrew

 

Yeh, 2 people, or a jack...

Don't try and be a hero like I tried to and lift it out by yourself without a jack. I had it ready to take down like you are about to do weights on a bench press, but it was heavier than I thought.

I squirmed my way out from underneath it after not being able to breathe for close to a minute I'd say. Damn scary. If I was a little fella, I probably wouldn't be typing this message right now

Lesson in life for you!

 

I've removed mine by myself and I'm 5'7" and 130-135 lbs. It can be done, not easy, but if you take your time and plan exactly how you're going to get it down (and up when you're finished) you shouldn't have much trouble.

 

Removing it is easy. Putting it back in is the hard part. Also, make sure that you drain the tranny fluid out of it first or you will have a mess. And like they said above, get a friend to help. Preferably, a strong friend.

Pretty much the way we did it was this: unplug everything, take out starter, disconnect driveshaft and undo bolts. Wiggle a bit, and the tranny comes right out. Onto my chest and stomach...oof. It's about 70 lbs, so it's not pleasant but it's not going to kill you. Be careful of the tranny mount.

When putting it back in, we used a couple of jacks. A large floor jack in the front supporting most of the weight, and a smaller jack supporting the back. Had to slowly jack them up, one after the other to keep the jack from slipping (since we weren't using a tranny jack either) until it was almost in position. Then, I got to where the larger jack was lifted it up with my hands and got a friend to pull the jack away. I crawled underneath it, and my friend pushed on the rear to get it into the engine, while I was lifting and adjusting the front to make sure it went in properly.

I don't recommend this method, if it's at all possible to get a tranny jack do it. But hey, it worked.

 

If your not weak just do it yourself. Make sure all the bolts are off and the slave is off the tranny. The tranny is still held in place even if all the bolts are off so just get under that thing and slowly i mean SLOWY pull the transmission off and lower it on to your body. From there just set it to the side then just replace what you have to. From there just set it to the side then just replace what you have to do from there. For putting it back on, if there is no one around do the jack plywood thing to save you some hassle. (I did it by just putting the transmission on my chest and lifted it up back into place, quite a work out took me 10 minutes and sore arms.)

 

my friend and I was doing this today. Jacked it with a large 3 ton jack and then supporting the back with a jack stand.... still couldn't get it in... its 1 inch from going in completely.....

i still can't figure out a way to get in intsalled yet....
but the weird thing is, i turned the flywheel and i felt the output shaft turning also, so that lead me to think that the teeth are Inside the clutch plate, but it just needs to be pushed in more... but i don' t know.......

Oops i didn't know this was from June

 

Did you use an alignment tool to make sure the clutch disc is centered so that the input shaft will go into the pilot bearing as well as the clutch disc?

 

i did, used it and made sure it was aligned...

 

Your not getting your input shaft of the tranny lined up with the pilot bearing. Use a little muscle and push up on the tranny and make sure the gap between the tranny and engine is even all the way around. just keep wiggling the trans around while pushing it toward the motor. It will fall into place.

 

I've found that realigning it works most of the time, even if you think you did it right the first time. It happened to a friend and I on a del Sol before.

Before I started working in a shop, I would one-man bench press those things in and out in the driveway without a problem (6'0", 215lbs.)

 

i just had the same problem last night. i got a bottle jack under the engine front pulley and got the engine to tilt back a little more. slid right in after hanging out an inch from being in.

 

I did this just last night (though it was a '78 1st gen).

Remove the bellhousing bolts and shifter as per service manual. Disconnect electrical and speedometer cable. Remove driveshaft.

Now remove all but one rear mouning bolt. Lay on your back, place your head under the oil pan, and your feet on the tailshaft assembly. With one hand, support the bellhousing, then reach around and undo the remainng bolt. BE VERY CAREFUL, because the engine will want to flop back. Support it with a piece of wood against the firewall first. While holding the bellhousing with two hands wiggle towards the back of the car, bench pressing it out of place. Allow the transmission to drop onto your chest gently, then squirm out from under it.

Not enjoyable, but it can be done. I don't recommend it.

 

I saw some other threads about using the driveshaft as a lever to push the tranny in...

but what other ways are there to get the transmission in easier? i don't have two 3 ton jacks so i don't have a jack to lift the engine...

 

You don't really need to lift the engine. Just jack up the transmission, then wiggle it into place. You may find you have to tilt the engine slightly to get a good angle, but without the transmission it will flop around easily on it's mounts.

 

i want to give up...... it just won't go in.....

i've tried to insert the driveshaft into the end of the outputshaft and pushing on it.... didn't work
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/tips-installing-removing-transmission-documentation-352505/

i've wiggled in everyway that i can wiggle this 110 lb crap...
it just won't go in.....

its been 3 days and i am dead tired....

would putting ALOT of grease on the input shaft make the work easier?

 

**** man... i know how you feel.. i started my clutch job today and now im stuck trying to get the tranny back in, im gonna try to jack the front of the engine up to try and get a better angle. good luck.

 

thanks guys, tilting the engnie with a bottle jack (it was a bottle jack ON a 3 ton jack) and greasing the splines worked well