View Full Version : Pulling the engine/trans
driveslikejehu
12-05-2025, 12:21 PM
You guys that have done this a few times, I'm looking for tips. I'm pulling the engine/trans to do head gaskets.
What's the best way to deal with half-shafts? Do I need to fully remove the hubs and half-shafts? Can the hubs be rotated away enough to pull the CV's out of the trans?
I thought there was a mention of this but didn't find it.
Thanks for any help...
You guys that have done this a few times, I'm looking for tips. I'm pulling the engine/trans to do head gaskets.
What's the best way to deal with half-shafts? Do I need to fully remove the hubs and half-shafts? Can the hubs be rotated away enough to pull the CV's out of the trans?
I thought there was a mention of this but didn't find it.
Thanks for any help...
You can disconnect the upper lateral arms and rotate the hubs down enough to pull the half shafts out of the transmission. Be careful not to damage the seals in the process.
Hobby Racer
12-05-2025, 04:47 PM
You can disconnect the upper lateral arms and rotate the hubs down enough to pull the half shafts out of the transmission. Be careful not to damage the seals in the process.
What I do is take out the one long bolt that holds the lower lateral links and then the lower trailing arm link the to spindle. That lets you move things out of the way enough to remove the inner CV from the transmission.
Either way can work, I just found it easier to leave the shock, upper links, and top trailing link in place. Two bolts per side and your done.
Bicyclops
12-05-2025, 05:14 PM
Then you have the fun times of tilting the tranny up and out without banging the engine on the frame. I use a hazard fraught leveling arm: https://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-load-leveler-60659.html It helps if you keep the acme screw well lubed.
Ed
Hobby Racer
12-05-2025, 05:44 PM
Then you have the fun times of tilting the tranny up and out without banging the engine on the frame. I use a hazard fraught leveling arm: https://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-load-leveler-60659.html It helps if you keep the acme screw well lubed.
Ed
Those are mandatory. I made one from scrap I had laying around the shop.
driveslikejehu
12-05-2025, 05:52 PM
Thanks for the replies; just what I needed.
Probably be in January when I'm finally ready to do it. I'll need something car to do in the middle of the Chicago winter.
Maybe beer, chicken wings and engine pulling with a couple of guys. So I won't worry about the scratched frame until the next day :D