HeavyOlds

Have any of you ever removed a TH400 out of a 66 Cutlass with long tube headers in place? It's a real pain to remove either header. The widest part on the transmission is where the torque converter dust cover bolts on. Making it 1/2" too wide to drop between the headers. I'm thinking maybe tilting the transmission sideways might work.

oldcutlass

You will probably need to at least loosen them and disconnect the collector joint so they can swing back and forth.

HeavyOlds

I may have to do that. I think even if I loosen it I might not get enough movement. I found a good deal on a high lift transmission jack. I machined an adapter so I can use the two axis swivel mount that came with it on my floor jack. We will see if I can use this to get around the headers. Wish me luck.

HeavyOlds

My idea actually worked. I was sceptical that it would. I was able to tilt the transmission down on the passenger side by 2" and up on the driver side by 2". It easily slipped through between the headers without touching them. The headers end exhaust are actually holding the engine from tilting back. The transmission is actually widest at 19" where the dust cover bolts on at the front. At this point at the header the width is 18". This saved a ton of work and worth the $100 usd I paid for the transmission jack. You know how headers can be.

HeavyOlds

Headers 1" narrower than the TH400.



Tilting the transmission did the trick.