I have every thing unhooked, a garage floor full of tranny fluid when I pulled the dipstick, converter is at last 3/16" (max?) from coming out, I had to cut an ear (not used) off bell housing, can't get cross member out for some odd reason, drank about 8 beers now, wife's P.O.'ed I spent too long with car and not her, and I'm frustrated.

Thanks for listening.


:D

Doug,
Knock one side of the crossmember towards the front of the car and the other side towards the back. It should fall out. Wait till the suds wear off and the headache is gone though :)

Not sure what you're saying. I’ve done converter changes with 9 beers and with no beers. I suggest you try one of these approaches. ;)

Edit: Like Bill suggest, let's work on this tomorrow.

All is good this morning and I didn't want to go hammering last night due to "the look" from wife the third time she walked into the garage. My bedroom is over the garage (colonial with 2 car attached garage) and I think that would have put her over the edge.

Will try again in a few hours :D BTW,no hangover :D

On 1st Gens, it's common for the body bushings to settle leaving little clearance for the cross member. I usually loosen the body bushings on the passenger side so I can separate it from the body about 1/2" and the cross member will come right out.

Well guys, the converter is in. Turned into a bigger job than I remember it being before. I just need to finish going over everything and top off the tranny fluid.

Good idea on doing a double check. So what did you have and what do you have now?

I had a 12" 2200 stall that was making noise (like a cracked flywheel). Bought a buddy's old converter 10" 3000 stall that wasn't that old and was too small for his car. We know my converter is/was holding me back some and this should help.

I'm getting ready for 22 Oct. which may be my last track day. Guy with a backyard 383 in an S-10 with a smaller cam, less compression, and bigger heads is going up too. He's been 12.007 @ 108.93 on basicly the same drivetrain (th350,3000 stall / 3.73's)

Local website I belong too has us pitted against each other, just for fun.