The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Unbolting Transmission - what to know

Pulling my 235 engine and 4spd trans from my 61 Apache 10 -- when I separate the trans from the bell housing -- what do I need to watch out for besides the weight of the transmission?
Does it pull straight out? Top bolts last? -- thanks in advance. GPK1961

Weight, cumbersome and rather clumsy or at least I'll say it can be. Personally I like to remove the engine and transmission together and separate them once they're out. I'm less likely to drop something that way. Although in my youth I'd just lift it out, set it on my chest and then move it over beside me. I see you're in Dallas, so unless you have an airconditioned garage you're going to have sweaty hands now and that's not always a good combination with a greasy transmission. It pulls straight out. Take off the 4 bolts (any order). There will be a round lip (formed by the front retainer piece) which fits into the hole in the bell housing, and this holds it in place until you pull back and separate it. Good luck.

If that year of truck is like the AD, the motor will not come out with the transmission attached. The transmission is heavy and has an irregular shape. On the AD trucks the transmission is removed with an engine hoist through the cab.

I have pulled 216/235/261 engines and 3-speed and 4-speed transmissions as "units" - hood removed and radiator/housing removed. As described in the Shop Manual.

Otherwise, I have sometimes first removed the transmission (3-speed/4-speed) from below/underneath the cab/floorboard, and then lift the engine out.

Thanks Jon G, tclederman, truckernix -- this is why I love this site. I'll post some pix when I get her pulled out. Best to you all - GPK1961

Got the engine and transmission out. Got the transmission separated from the bell housing as well. Hot today, but not too bad. Thanks again - gpk1961

GPK - Search the site for engine dolly. You will find plans for a dolly that fits your engine. Quick and easy to build and makes moving engine much easier. Depending on your plans for the transmission, easy to fab a stand for that too.

Here is the excellent Engine Dolly Tech Tip that Hambone refers to. (by Stephen "Farmdog" Peterson)

Good! We're in the Lake Highlands area. Where in Big D are you?

Thanks - as soon as i got it out I remembered seeing a dolly. I just printed the plans! Jon G I am in Frisco, work in Plano.

I don't know if you're planning on rebuilding by having the machine work done and then assembling yourself or what but I have an engine stand which I (somewhat) made to work with a 235 if you need it. Most of them are made for V8 applications and they won't work with a 6. Just let me know. We're inside the loop but I'm sure we could figure out where to meet.

John G - thanks for the offer. I am trying to figure out what direction to go. The engine and trans are in my warehouse. The last truck (61 C20) I had City Motor rebuild the long block (283 v8) and I reassembled it. (several gaskets got done twice as I am a rookie!) I will let you know. Best - gpk1961

I can't say anything good about City Motor. From my experience they do fast and loose work. Blaine's I hear isn't bad, but I'm really picky on machine work.