If you've got a true transmission jack, I would use that. I have not had the opportunity to pull an AD transmission using a cherry picker, but I recall my dad repairing the transmission in his 51 GMC with four speed. I was just a kid and wasn't involved with it but I don't recall he used any kind of jack, but bench pressed it out and in. I wouldn't even attempt that with the 3-speed in my AD. Dad was in way better shape then than I am now.
But I've used a transmission jack on a 6-speed manual transmission in my Ford diesel. That sucker weighs about 200 lb. Still a tough job.
As far as reinstalling, build a couple of guide pins (just bolts with the heads cut off) that will thread into the bell housing to guide it back in place.
Clutches, per the Vehicle Info Kit for 1958 trucks were either standard 10 inch or optional 11 inch (based on disk OD.) They each take different flywheels with different bolt pattern (6 bolt for 10" and 9 bolt for 11") for the pressure plate. The 11 inch clutch/flywheel combo is pretty rare and clutch kits are hard to come by.
Last edited by klhansen; 01/24/2025 4:56 AM. Reason: added clutch info
