Installing my SM465

[bbchevy]

i've been converting my truck from an auto to a standard. got everything in, aligned the clutch, and started to install the tranny. got any tips on how to get that damn thing to line up with the pilot bushing? its about a half inch away from the bellhousing and wont go any farther. i took the transfer case off(205) to make life a little easier so at least that isnt killing me. so right now the tranny's balancing on a floor jack. is there any easier way to get everything to line up when you're working under there? I know you guys must have done this about a million times, so you have to have some little tip or trick you learned. Well thanks in advance for any help guys.

-Scott

[wedgemon]

I took near 5 days to get mine to seat. My only advice is, when you think you have the input shaft lined up and parallel to the pilot and ready to stab in there, get the back end of the trans tilted up about 3/8 to 1/2 in more than you think it should be - with the nose at the same level.

It's a real bear. Really makes me reconsider ever doing my clutch again. But, you'll get other good hints here soon.

- Dave

[edman87]

make sure your clutch is lined up when bolting down the pressure plate. Get some extra bolts about 4" long and line the trans up and get 2 long bolts in, then jack it up until you THINK it is parallel, you will be wrong. Use the floor jack to keep it from falling down too far and push it up and wiggle it in place while calling it bad names, that works for me.
BTW, if you are running a big block 4 wheel drive, I would never use a pilot bushing, always a bearing, especially with a big block.

[wedgemon]

Edma's right. I forgot about the bad name calling. Here's a small list of select expletives appropraite to the situation:

Why you stupid <edited>
What the <edited>
It's supposed to <edited> <edited> just slip right in the <edited> <edited> <edited>.

[edman87]

Those explicatives will only last for about 10 min of the install. You will soon develope new combinations od words to describe thejob, but when you actually have it done, you will aim the words at yourself because" if I had done that on the first try, it would have worker a lot better. Oh well, it will be a piece of cake the next time" NOT
Although, I can swap a manual trans in a 2wd gm in 45 minutes from the time I pull it in the shop to the time I pull it out. I did it once or twice on my old 91!
Just sit back for a minute or 2 and try again and it will all come together

[67Cowboy]

Well one winter I was living on a ranch where every barn and shop we had was full, and wouldn't you know it my clutch went out. I got my parts and by the time I got home it was like 20 below chill factor. I stood plywood up around the truck and covered it with a couple tarps and put two 1000 watt halogens up under the truck. Getting everything loose and out was not bad but by the time I went to stab the thing in my fingers were give out and too dang cold to even feel what I was doing and one man under the truck can't see squat. So I went and found me some bolts I could use as guide studs I hacked the heads off and knocked the sharp edge off with a file. I put one on each side second hole up just above the dowls that way I could see to get the that much lined up. I even put a little grease on the front of the shaft. When I got it on my temporary studs I slid to the back and grabbed the back and pushed like crazy with my feet on the carrier cross member. I moved the whole truck but I shimmied that thing till it went. Then I put vicegrips on the ends of the temporary studs and got them back out and bolted it up. Just a side note if you guys ever have to work in the cold, a sheet of that white foam insulation with the foil on one side makes a really nice creeper substitue. Hope that helps.

[edman87]

That reminds me of the time I was helping a buddy pull a t-case from a old waggoneer and it was sleeting on us, at night, in the middle of a field- that sucked and he is still working that one off!

[84 400]

wow great write up! i am thinking of douing a autp to manual swap in my 2wd 84. I just hope it goes semi smooth and i willbe able to shift my own. Good luck and i know were you have been. did a clutch on my buddies 4x4 98 amigo. wow that trans and t case were dang heavy but with time and alittle work it went pretty smooth. good luck and it will work eventually.

[edman87]

amigo has a t-5 right? You think that is heavy? Try my nv4500/np241 combo. Or my sm465/208 combo or........