Swapped a Transmission This Weekend

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390) 05/12/2019 at 21:45 • Filed to: Trans Am

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Always wondered what it was like spending a weekend swapping an engine or transmission in the driveway . Got to do that over last three days swapping out an automatic 700r4 for a 4-speed manual in a certain Oppo’s Trans-Am.

In regards to the transmission, taking out the auto wasn’t too painful for us . The flex plate and adapter were the two pains that made Day 1/Night 1 a bit hectic. I also learned right away that autos are heavier than manuals (maybe that rule doesn’t always apply but it sure did here). Two floor jacks were required, but this was a job were you couldn’t possibly have too many of them.

Getting the manual in on Day 2 was the easiest part IMO. The hardest part was t he starter motor that required shims to properly align it to the engine block (damn GM not making a better casting). Today, everything was finally back together and the engine is running-ish. However, there may or may not be a problem with the clutch alignment so we’ll see later on. All in all, would do it again.

CB > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2019 at 21:53

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I was wondering if that was Bandit’s when I saw it on Instagram! It looks awesome!

How’s the 944 coming along?

Bandit > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2019 at 21:58

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Thanks for the help this weekend, couldn’t have done it without you! It was many many hours of continuous wrenching and problem solving but in the end we did get it done.

One issue right now is the clutch wont disengage from the flywheel so it cant go into gear with the engine running. B est guess is there’s some linkages and such that need adjusted, I’ll let the shop take care of that though.

Urambo Tauro > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2019 at 21:59

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How much w eight would you estimate was shed here? About 100 pounds -ish?

Cuz I was looking at s ome neat spec sheets I found for my Mustang , and the auto version weighs about 100 pounds more than the manual. T hat’s taking everything into account- comparing the auto transmission , its torque converter, and the fluid, against the manual with its clutch components and small er fluid capacity.

Bandit > Urambo Tauro 05/12/2019 at 22:06

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Roughly 5 0-60 lbs. Would be more but going from the automatic flexplate to a steel flywheel was a mass penalty.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2019 at 22:57

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I’m digging those wheels. A nice balance between retro and modern.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > CB 05/12/2019 at 23:05

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It does!

I’m still waiting to get the call that its ready.

shop-teacher > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2019 at 23:23

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Very cool!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/13/2019 at 09:21

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I’ve done a transmission R&R on a lift and that was difficult enough. Can’t imagine how tough it was to do in a driveway

MM54 > Bandit 05/14/2019 at 20:42

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Back off the linkage where it meets the clutch fork, it screws into/out of a block on the z-bar. There should be a very slight gap at rest; reproduction clutch bumpstops are very thick and usually need trimmed down to actually get enough pedal travel to fully release.