Help! Im about to pull out my tranny!

[lutzy]

Hey..So I just bought a 1969 camaro and it has a TH400 in it..I bought a 5 speed setup I plan on putting in..So I was hesitating on having someone doing it for me but kinda short on money so im gonna give it a try. I have the car all jacked up so far and looked everything over. I have the cooler lines running to the radiator. Do I disconnect one of those lines to drain the transmission? I dont see any drain plugs..please I need some help! thanks

[kochevy67]

You won't be able to drain the trans from the lines at the radiator. That will only drain a small amount. In order to avoid a mess drop the pan to drain it. If you don't want to do that make sure you have a spare driveshaft yolk in the tailshaft of the trans or you will have a potentially healthy spill.

[Z06vette]

You really don't have to drain it. Fluid will run out of the lines when you disconnect them. I use caps on them. Leave the yoke in the tranny so fluid doesnt run out. I usually stretch a bunjy cord around it so it doesnt fall out while taking the tranny out. If you want to drain it, remove all the bolts on the pan except a few on one side. Slowly loosen the remaining bolts without removing them all the way. The pan will start to slowly drop at an angle and the fluid will pour out on the low side. Once u get most of the fluid out, remove the pan. U have help getting that 400 out? If not, try a piece of wood on the jack & a ratchet strap around the tranny. As you can tell, I work by myself a lot....
Scott

[lutzy]

Do I need to loosen my engine mounts? its a BB and its prety tight againt my firewall..If I do need to loosen the engine mount do I losen the bolts from mount to engine or the bolts from the mount to car. Its a solid metal mount. As you cold see this is my first time pulling a tranny out. But im not afraid to get dirty..thanks

[Z06vette]

I havent worked on BB f body, but I had had luck with small block removing the trans crossmember & lowering the trans a little to gain some room to access bellhousing bolts. Usually long extension and possibly a swivel for the top bolts, done from the bottom. I have also been able to get to the top bell bolts from the top side on some cars. Take some pics as your pulling it out!
Scott

[Vegas69]

Minimally, take the distributor cap off and you may need to pull the distributor to lower it enough. I can tell you're going to have alot of questions pictures always help.

[Z06vette]

Great point on the distrib. I failed to mention that. I'm so bent on these LSX motors I forget about distributors...