So I put a new flywheel and clutch on my '86 GXL this weekend but can't seem to get the transmission to mate back up to the engine. Is there some trick to help get the input shaft to align and slide in? I used the alignment tool for the clutch when putting it on so that should be fine. Would it help to loosen the engine mounts and tilt the engine? How is everyone else doing it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated... I'm really wanting to get my car back together!

 

You're not the first person to experience this, it can be a bit tricky. If you have stock motor mounts and they're a bit squishy, someone could literally push on the engine to tilt it back and it should line right up. Alternative, loosening the mounts (as you stated) and jacking on the front of the engine should easily give you the angle you need. It's that simple.

 

I just replaced the clutch on my 89. What happens is when you take the transmission off, the engine pivots away from the transmission toward the front of the car. The only way to get them back together is to jack up the front of the engine until it's level again. Then you'll have the correct angle for the two parts to join.

(Every one says not to use the bolts to pull the transmission onto the engine. I couldn't figure any other way to do it. It seems to be ok.)

 

Along with what they said, slip the driveshaft in the tail housing of the transmission, and make sure that it's in a gear. By rotating the driveshaft, the input shaft will turn, making it easier for the splines on the input shaft to engage the female splines on the clutch.

I also do not recommend using a bolt to draw the transmission to the engine. From experience, you CAN break the bell housing of the trans if you have any binding. That's not to say you can't put a bolt or 2 in once it's going on, then wiggle it while you tighten the bolts with your fingers, but don't put any excess force on the bolts while the 2 are separated. It can break things.

 

Good advice there AGreen, for just about any transmission install.

 

Figured it out, thanks for your help everyone.

 

Trannys suck! I spent 2 days one time wrestling to get one in and just about wore myself out in the process.
Now I have a friend who has a hoist! Much easier!

 

I also found out... the hard way... that if you TII swap a convertible, you MUST remove the convertible's subframe brace when removing or re-installing the transmission. I used to be able to do a clutch on my car in about 3 hours. That last time was a huge pain in the butt because the transmission got stuck on the way out. I didn't even know about the extra brace that was there, but removing it made pulling the transmission SO much easier!

 

Try rotating the transmission, I have found that the splines don't always align. You might have to drop the rear of the driveshaft.

Dave

 

having the same issue, last night trying to get the tranny swapped, spent hrs getting aligned. didnt get to finish so motor mount and jack it is today!

 

i use a set of long bolts as guides for the transmission. put it into gear and use the driveshaft to turn the input shaft to align the splines.

the pilot seal also seems to cause a lot of problems, so i rarely even use them(they never last long anyways and usually get ripped during install no matter how careful you are).

 

Quoted for truth. I punted on worrying about those stupid pinion seals a long time ago as well. Just make sure it's well greased and realistically it's going to be fine.

Getting a transmission to mate up can be a 5 min process or a 5 hour process. It seems to depend on which way the wind is blowing or perhaps what you had for breakfast...meaning it's totally arbitrary.

BUT, it should always go in by a moderate push, NEVER by using bolts to draw it in. That's a good way to wreck splines, bearings, clutches, flywheels, bellhousings, etc