Quite true. Keisler recommends disconnecting the line at the MC and removing the tranny with bell housing and bearing in one piece. Pulling mine soon so we will see how that works.
Yeah, problem with that is that it's Impossible in many cars. There is exactly zero possibility that you can do that on a '66 GTO. You have maybe 1" at the most between the upper portions of the scatter shield and the firewall. You have lots of inches of input shaft that needs to come straight out. You'd have to cut out the firewall. Even if you took out the motor mount bolts, and allowed the drivetrain to tilt back, all you'd end up with is the rear of the block and the scattershield smacking into the firewall. Just a very inefficient design considering maintenance.
John, according to the description, it would appear that this model may not work with a TKO, perhaps without modification to the main bearing retainer anyway. It specifies Saginaw, Jerico, Muncie trannies - nothing about TREMEC. Is that just a lapse in the description and it really does work?
If so, do you know if it would also work with the master cylinder (Wilwood) that Keisler normally supplies? I'm a big fan of Howe stuff. It would be a nice option if this is true.
John, thanks a lot. I'll check to see what the bore and stroke of the Keisler supplied MC is to be sure, but I seem to recall that's what it might be as well. If so, you just gave another option to me. The Keisler unit does work well, but it makes thinking about pulling the tranny a nightmare.
Hey, you're welcome. Glad to help. Another nice thing about the Howe part is that many speed shops carry them. You can actually go to the store and come home with one.
Pulled the transmission out of my Impala SS last Saturday. The clutch release
line was a real PIA. The fitting on the MC was/is stuck and almost impossible
to get a wrench on. The fitting on the Throw-out bearing is solid. Wound up
twisting the flex line into a pretzel.
I called Keisler but could not get tech support and no return call so far. What
is needed is a connection that will turn on a hard line at the bearing. There is
room to get a crows foot wrench in there and turn if the fitting were similar
to a brake line. Has anyone tried building a custom line?
Other than the clutch line, the tranny came out with little fuss. I did call
Liberty to see about their shifter upgrades but they quoted $700.00 if I
sent them the transmission. Ouch.
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1996 Impala SS, Red Bow Tie Mod
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
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