I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a BTO Level 2 200-4R transmission for my 63 Nova (Camaro will be next after this car). But I'd like to hear feedback as to my ideas for removing this transmission!

My thought was to jack up the car with 3ton stands on all 4 corners of the frame, front ones being as high as possible, might not need the rears. The stands give me 17" of lift, the transmission seems to measure out to be 15" from bottom of pan to top of the bellhousing. That only leaves me 2" which isn't enough for a jack.

Sears has a Motorcycle Jack that seems like an ideal low profile solution to lower and raise the transmission. This jack has a 5.25" clearance so I would need to place large flat blocks of wood under the front two stands to get the additional 3.25" of clearance.

Transmission Jacks seem to require much more clearance.

Any comments?

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-lift/motorcycle-lift-stand.jpg

I built a cradle and use my floor jack. I take the saddle off and bolt it through the hole. Works great.

Brian:
I've pulled lots of tranny's 'out-the-bottom' with very limited ground clearance.
For the ChevyII, with the limited clearance around the engine to pull it and thrans out for replacement, I would recomend you take it out from the bottom.
If there is no room for a jack to roll it out, I just use a piece of plywood to lay the trans on and then slide it out. The assembly doesn't wieght that much that it is very hard to handle this way. I've even dragged them out on a blanket :o
Be sure to remove the distributor cap and anything else in the rear of the engine that would be damaged as you tip it back to get to the upper bellhousing bolts.
Also remove the fan shroud, rad hose(s) and other items in the front that would block the upward movement of the front of the engine.
If your throttle linkage is mechanical, you'll need to disconnect it also.
Temporarily support the rear of the engine with a fabricated (wood or metal) support to keep the wieght off the oil pan and still support the engine well. You can use the jack under here to adjust the rake of the engine and tranny combo to get it where you need it to unbolt everything.

Hope this helps some;
John M.

Harbor Freight sells the floor jack adapter for AT transmissions. You need all room you can get so jack up all corners, tilt motor.

I picked up some 12ton stands on sale at Northern Tool for cheap. They will hold my car up further than I can jack it up with my floor jack. Even if you’re on a budget you might want to consider getting the car a little higher to do the job. Then of course the standard trans jack would work and they are easily maneuvered.

Once I get the trans lowered on the jack, I just slide it off onto a towel or blanket, a la Vintage 68. Wire the converter in place if it's an auto to save a big ugly mess. That's the easy part. It's getting the NEW trans up onto the jack while under the car that takes some finagling. That's where a good friend with big guns comes in handy.

I've changed a lot of automatic tranny's out and never used a tranny jack. With their nice flat pan usually a floor jack is sufficient as long as you are carefull.

I would slide the transmission into or out from under the vehicle on the pan and cardboard. While under the car I would hold the converter with one hand and lift the tailhousing with the other while simultaneously moving the floor jack under the transmission with my foot. As I type this out it sounds really contortionist/complicated but I've done it so many times this way I'm used to it. Key is to have a method of ensuring the torque converter doesn't slip off when you pivit the tailhousing up to slide the jack underneath. Once you have it partway you hold the jack in place and use both hands to push the tranny onto the pad of the jack.

There are easier ways with more $$ in tools invested.

i`ve used 1stgens method, but i usually do it without the converter in, and then once on the jackpad, i install the converter...usually a rebuilt will only have a small amt of fluid in the converter, so no big mess...just make sure to base the converter out in the pump before bolting to the motor...i also spray white grease in the crank and sand paint off end of conv to prevent bind...

I have heard from multiple people that have used the motorcycle jack that you are talking about for pulling trannys and love how easy it makes the job. I beleive he said they were only $99 too so sounds like a good investment. I think I might go this route next time I have to pull the tranny.

Easiest way? Pay someone else. lol. It is very aggravating!