[Detach]

Hellow everybody, I'm going to be replacing my clutch this weekend in my driveway and I have a quesiton. It's not so much a tech question but a tool question. My dad told me about "extension rods" is the term he used. Supposedly they're rods that you screw into the bell housing and you just slide the transmission back enough to pull the clutch without having to drop the transmission. Has anyone ever heard of this? Does it work? If so, where can I get them? THANK YOU

[.boB]

I'v never heard of doing it this way. I suppose you could, though. You would need to move the trans back quite a ways, like 12-18".

Use some 7/16" all thread from Lowes.

Remove the two bottom bellhousing to block bolts, and put in the all thread.

Let me know if this works.

[bezerk1]

Considering all of the components that have to be removed to slide the transmission back, it will probably be just as easy to remove the transmission. A T-5 is not very heavy and will sit level and well balanced on any floor jack. The extension rods will put a lot of leverage on the aluminum bellhousing. I would be scared of cracking it. Change the fluid in the transy while you have it out and check the slip yoke bushing and seal. Have fun.

[Detach]

Ok thanks for the input guys! Would the transmission be safe w/o the jack? I mean i'm doing it in my driveway and the car will be about 1-2 feet off the ground max. Is it too heavy that I (young, strong, ruddy and handsome hahaha) wouldn't be able to do it by hand?

[.boB]

In my younger days, I did it that way in a '70 Torino Cobra and '69 Mustang GT, both cars equipeed with toploaders.

Lay on the ground with the trans next to you. Roll over and hug the trans. Roll onto your back, bringing the trans with you. Bench press the trans onto the guide pins, and slide it into place. Then take a break and let your blood pressure drop back to normal.

I'm an Old Guy now, and wouldn't even consider doing it that way. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else, either. Now I let my tools do all the hard work for me. Work smarter, not harder.

[Detach]

haha yeah...i just used good ole jacks and jackstands. It's done though. It was a B**** to do. It was the first time any of the bolts had been broken in 13 years.