Five speed swap help

**00galantguy** · 06-15-2010, 11:19 PM

Me and bsilver23 were working on the trans part of the 5 speed swap when we came across these problems. Main one is we couldnt get the bolt off the trans as pictured below. Also we couldnt get the passenger side axle out but we did get both bolts out. Help! We are going to try and get a breaker bar in there tomorrow just looking more for suggestions of what other people tried and had some success with. (hint: its the bolt the socket is on)

**03-Galant-ES** · 06-16-2010, 12:23 AM

use a longer bar to make more torque one of you hold it on the other lean on the long bar. The torque should loosen it up well enough for it to eventually be able to be done with a regular 1/2'' drive when reinstalling clean all bolts and holes and antiseize each bolt. I swear by that shit.

As for the axles I believe you just need to get them to loosen up there is probably alot of dust and grime seizing it in place. You may need to take a torch to it. Be gentle, but the heat may give you some extra room to get it to budge.

This is just general automotive experience, I would wait for someone with specific experience with swaps to reply saying yay or nay for my methods.

**beam514** · 06-16-2010, 03:34 AM

My breaker bar wouldn't fit in that awkward position (yes.. it's very awkward.. especially with the distributor in the way) SO I used a piece of metal pipe that we have from an old vacuum cleaner. That metal pipe has served us well when it comes to giving us more leverage :)

as for the axle, do you mean it won't come out of the hub? or the transmission

**00galantguy** · 06-16-2010, 03:51 AM

Originally Posted by beam514

My breaker bar wouldn't fit in that awkward position (yes.. it's very awkward.. especially with the distributor in the way) SO I used a piece of metal pipe that we have from an old vacuum cleaner. That metal pipe has served us well when it comes to giving us more leverage :)

as for the axle, do you mean it won't come out of the hub? or the transmission

^^ both lol

**beam514** · 06-16-2010, 04:08 AM

for the transmission side:
You know that little emergency jack kit in the trunk? it has the two-piece lug wrench thingy. Use the pry bar end of that one piece to get the axle out of the transmission. Gotta wedge it between the axle and somewhere on the transmission. That worked for me.

Hub side:
rubber mallet is all I can say. That, or using both people, find the "sweep spot" of the angle or whatever of the entire assembly that allows the axle to slide the easiest. Spray some PB blaster or WD-40 for good measure.

**beam514** · 06-16-2010, 04:10 AM

and another question for you guys:
did you guys remove the water housing? It would make the swap a WHOLE lot easier once you're trying to put the 5 speed in. I didn't take it off and I still don't know how I managed to get the transmission correctly mated to the engine. A lot of angling with our engine hoist I guess

**bsilver23** · 06-16-2010, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by beam514

My breaker bar wouldn't fit in that awkward position (yes.. it's very awkward.. especially with the distributor in the way) SO I used a piece of metal pipe that we have from an old vacuum cleaner. That metal pipe has served us well when it comes to giving us more leverage :)

as for the axle, do you mean it won't come out of the hub? or the transmission

actually the axle is out on the axle side but it is still stuck in there on the transmission side. although the first couple threads on the axle where it goes through the hub got messed up cuz my friend banged it out with a hammer, so now i have to file it down or something

**bsilver23** · 06-16-2010, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by beam514

and another question for you guys:
did you guys remove the water housing? It would make the swap a WHOLE lot easier once you're trying to put the 5 speed in. I didn't take it off and I still don't know how I managed to get the transmission correctly mated to the engine. A lot of angling with our engine hoist I guess

we did not remove the water housing, but that should help a lot if it is off...i have no idea how to remove it, however.

**Rizzzo29** · 06-16-2010, 11:00 AM

ill be there to today bsilver23^^

**bsilver23** · 06-16-2010, 11:08 AM

oh nice, this will help you for when its time to do yours

**Rizzzo29** · 06-16-2010, 11:17 AM

exactly :) except your v6 correct? not to much of a diff but..

got a spare clutch fluid resevoir or shifter cables?????? lol

**bsilver23** · 06-16-2010, 11:19 AM

yeah im a v6, i dont have any spares sorry ha, but i do have an extra brake pedal

**4g63lover** · 06-16-2010, 03:40 PM

I used a 1/4" ratchet and a 14mm socket to take the bellhousing bolts out. They shouldnt be giving you a hard time at all.

**Galant306m** · 06-16-2010, 04:39 PM

you need help?? haha i can come help sometime this week

**M-Rod** · 06-16-2010, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by bsilver23

we did not remove the water housing, but that should help a lot if it is off...i have no idea how to remove it, however.

You won't need to remove it.

**beam514** · 06-16-2010, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by M-Rod

You won't need to remove it.

how in the world did you mate the transmission to the block? My transmission kept hitting the water housing where that little "U" on the top of the bellhousing is. It was nearly impossible to maneuver it around the water house without hitting the pressure plate or the K frame

**M-Rod** · 06-16-2010, 07:47 PM

I have no idea how it went together so easily. My engine was sitting at a pretty steep angle though. And something funny that just came to mind. Remember when I called asking how the transmission is supposed to come out? I missed a bolt on the bottom of the bellhousing. My friend and I were giving each other shit about that bolt for the longest time afterwards.

**bsilver23** · 06-16-2010, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by M-Rod

I have no idea how it went together so easily. My engine was sitting at a pretty steep angle though. And something funny that just came to mind. Remember when I called asking how the transmission is supposed to come out? I missed a bolt on the bottom of the bellhousing. My friend and I were giving each other shit about that bolt for the longest time afterwards.

were you still able to get that one you forgot about on the bottom easily or did you have to approach it in a different way since all the top ones were already out?