Im frustrated and my arms are completely worn out so I'll Ask.
Ive got the bellhousing and fork installed. I used an alignment peg when i installed the clutch +PP.
I dry fit the whole thing and it worked well except the pilot was a little tight (slipped the clutch over the splines on the ground and the pilot over the snout).
When I muscle the trans up into the bellhousing it slips in almost all the way in but stops about 1/2 inch before seating on the bellhousing.
I reattempted about 3 times before i was completely worn out and frustrated.
Anyone got any ideas? The next plan of action is to take off the bellhousing, clutch, and pressure plate again.
At this point I'm thinking about rebuilding the AOD that came out.
The trans is from an 88 mustang. I bought the pilot bushing from Advance auto online but they list 3 or 4 with no description about the differences. Does an 88 have multiplie pilot bushings?
Sounds like a problem with the pilot bearing,squished from install????
While you are trying to install the transmission have someone press the clutch pedal.
I don't have the clutch cable on there, but what will that do (Depressing the clutch)? On the pathfinder i recently did it just slid in and engaged.
I had the same problem when I put the transmission back in my car.
I think it does that because the splines aren't fully seating on the clutch disc.
I got mine to that point, and although they say you're not supposed to draw the transmission to the bellhousing with the bolts, I did anyway because I was doing the job by myself and I was frustrated. It didn't seem to cause any problems though.
X2, I garuantee that is the problem, had that same problem installing my T5... as you will note by this pic:
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb170/1WLDBRD/88Thunderbird091a.jpg)
as soon as I took the tension off of the clutch with the pry bar, the tranny fell right in place.
I get by with the twist and wiggle method. It's a nice work-out though. I've installed every transmission by myself.
If you have a helper it would make things easier I suppose.
Mine slid right in. But when I was bolting the pressure plate down I kind of pushed the pilot tool up to compensate for the effect gravity had on it.
All above are good ideas of things to try, although I never pay much attention to guarantees from somebody that’s not looking at it nor has anything to loose by it. I have experienced both the problems there talking about, I had my pilot bushing slip sideways once and it went in the hole in the PP but the input shaft couldn’t go in. I tightened it down the last half inch with the bolts and just crushed the bushing. Had to pull it all out and replace the bushing. I learned BAD IDEA to force things, IF it’s right; it will slip together with Chuck’s “twist and wiggle” method.
Another time I had used an aligning pin and “twist and wiggle” still wasn’t working, I checked the bushing it was fine and still no go, Used a pry bar to depress the pressure plate (as it appears is happening in 1WLD BRD’s photo) and relive the pressure on the clutch disk and POP, it slipped right in.
My theory on your question “but what will that do (Depressing the clutch)?” is that the aligning pin is not supported in the back like the Input shaft is, The pin is aligning the Pilot and the Disk but NOT the Pilot, Disk AND Tranny giving it the right angle. This can allow a small amount of misalignment of the Disk. Relieving the pressure on the Disk allows it to align Tranny with the Pilot first, and then the Disk to float into alignment with that.
Did any of that make sense?
I installed the clutch cable, depressed the clutch, and bang it snapped right in. I'm still kinda new to 5spds and holy cow what a difference depressing the clutch made. If only I could have done that on the pathfinder (the bell housing is part of the trans).
Thanks everyone.
Your welcome.
Gee good thing you didnt pay much attention to my garuantee... :rolleyes:
I dont garuantee ANYTHING unless I am 100% sure of it...
Your welcome dude, glad we could help...
I had a helper(and a lift) when I replaced the AODE in the wifes Grand Marquis... Seemed to help...:D Usually I'm by myself, on the floor...
For the clutch pedal depress, use a piece of 2x4 wedged between the seat and pedal to hold it on the floor(may want to use a 1x8 or similar laid between the seat and 2x4 to protect the seat)... I've reinstalled the top loader several times in my Cobra Jet using this method... That transmission probably weighs nearly twice what a T5 does...
X2 here as well... 95% of the work I do by myself, including body and paint...
If I need help I have my little big brother to help me. I didn't for the T-5 swap, he was 1000 miles away at the time.
huh. neet. glad it worked. ive installed all my trans. on my back on the ground by myself. the T56 is porky too. never had a hard time though.