So what makes removing the engine more difficult?

__________________
79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

Okay, pulling the second tranny was easier - and not.

The parts car already had the starter removed.....so last night, around 7:00PM, I came across the starter bolts that go through the bellhousing.

7:00PM, Sunday night - whoops.

I'll be finding a bit to fit those bolts and then finishing the job. The first removal of a tranny (from the parts car), took me most of Saturday and Sunday last weekend as I had no clue what I was doing.

The second job so far took Sunday afternoon and a little of the evening, with breaks thrown in. Once I remove those bolts from the starter, it's out, as all the bellhousing bolts are already loosened, just waiting to be turned out.

__________________
79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

That is the point. Just because they hire someone doesn't mean they are a professional or even qualified.

For one you have random connections to the engine that you must connect, (Wires, fuel, exhaust, intake, cooling system, air conditioning, etc) Then you have to mate the engine with the tranny. after its mated with the tranny you have to put the engine onto its mounts and start wiring everything back up. its a rather large job compared with the simple unbolting of eighteen same sized bolts lowing the transmission and then putting it back up and putting the bolts back into its place. And if the engine is being rebuilt while its out, it would complicate things also.

__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

That sounds more likean engine install than removal.

How about just removing an engine that has no starter, just to pull it out of a parts car. How long should that take a novice to do?

__________________
79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

Or, how about taking them as an assembly and then separating engine from transmission on the ground?

__________________
Your TACH may have a loose connection...I was wondering why your mechanic would be dead one minute then flopping around the next... PanzerSD

i am inspired. i will replace my windsheild... with an intercooler. swedishK

Okay, a question on install.


I took the torque converter bolts out while the replacement tranny was still in - why?

Because the part of the transmission where head of the bolts were (is this the torque converter?) - the big flat round part - is still sitting inside the bellhousing on the tranny, without anything coming apart.

Did I pull the torque converter with the tranny? Was it supposed to stay connected to the engine? How do I reinstall this? I have read about having the torque converter "snap three times into place", but if it's alread there, do I just have to line up the bellhousing and reinsert the bolts?

Or am I missing something important here?

Thanks to all who have helped so far on this thread. While I would consider this job to be within the reach of any novice who can correctly remove and reinstall a single bolt (long as they have enough patience), it's all the helpful hints that make the job "completeable" (is that a word? )

__________________
79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

Does a starter need to come off a w116 to remove the tranny? I took off the two starter bolts, the only things left are holding it to the engine, but the starter is still in place.

Looks like I have all the bellhousing bolts removed, but tranny won't budge?

__________________
79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

dunl,

NO. Starter does not have to be removed. How do I know, I have the trans out of my 300SD now. Might get it back in tomorrow.

Did U get all 8 bolts out of the bell housing? For the 2 bolts on top. U need about 2 feet of socket wrench extension bars, enough to reach behind the transmission.

P E H

I just figured that out, as the tranny and engine needed to be supported up horizontally better. Then I spread the top of them with a tie rod separator (great pry bar of varying lengths).

Then, I unfortunately dropped it on the floor in a very controlled fall.

Good. You can tell me all the dirty details, as the replacement one is sitting on the floor of the garage right now with the dead one.

Did you try a 3" extension only? I managed to get those out of both trannies quite easily (well, relatively, I guess) with a 3" extension and socket = breaker bar.

Thanks for the tips. I'll look for more tomorrow, unless I get adventurous tonight.

Anything I need to do to prep the tranny before install?

__________________
79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

dunl,

Wire the torq converter (TC) to the bell housing so it doesn't slip off the shaft and install TC and trans together. Then snip off wires and remove them before U push the bell housing (BH) home .

I don't understand how U got the 2 top bolts out of the BH with a 3 inch extension. My bolts in so tight, I had a hard time getting them out with extensions.

P E H

shame on you guys for no pics

My torque converter (finally figured out which piece that was) seems to be on there good and tight, but that might not be a bad idea.

Simple.

I'm a hulking 150lb soaking wet monster.

__________________
79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

I'm afraid of screwing up the seals when sliding the trans into the TC. So I would rather remove the TC, install it on the trans shaft, wire it to BH and install TC and trans together.

There are only 6 bolts holding the TC to the flex plate. There is a small plate on the bottom rear of the bell housing that has to have one bolt removed and then the plate can hang from the other bolt to access the bolts that hold the TC onto the flex plate.

P E H

I use a carpenter's tool to separate the engine from tranny. Its basically like a putty knife, except a lot bigger and mounted on the end of a large wooden pole-handle. Its for separating the carpet from the floor when ripping carpet up.

I stick it between the engine and tranny and just unwedge it. Works AWESOME and you don't even have to bend down! Just make sure you have the engine lift connected and jacked up a little so when you separate them, the engine won't come down and possibly cause damage.

Just a tip for everyone.

ALSO!! When reinstalling the torque converter to the tranny, make sure to get it seated correctly. I had that problem last week, and had to pull the engine AGAIN. Lost a day...
Also, when you get it seated, make SURE TO put assembly lube on the nipple that goes into the flywheel. This is NECESSARY, because you will probably need to turn the torque converter after getting the engine connected to the tranny in order to line up the bolt holes with the flexplate. Very tedious process. And even MORE tedious if you forgot to lube up that nipple and the inside of the hole it goes into on the engine.

Lubing up nipples ALWAYS has its benefits