The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Can't get t5 in all the way

Hello friends,
I am sitting here freshly showered and arms just strong enough to sip my cabernet, and type.
Day started great. Sealed up recently purchased t5 with rtv, got that little spring and ball put back into the shifter cup, great, slid it under the truck! And the rest is downhill.
First, it's amazing that at 52, I can't lay under the trans and lift it off my chest like so many munches I put in years ago!
So, I tried to use floor jack. Trans goes in but does not seem to go all the way in. Possibly the pilot bearing. I muscled off the bolts to remove the trans support for better access. Second attempt trans fell off balance and one of the bolt tangs hit me in the side of the face,nice.
After a few more, and many times climbing in and out off the floor, it just won't go in. Any ideas?
I am using the adapter plate from hot rod works that fits perfect. I cut the front pilot sleeve that throw out bearing rides on to 3 5/8. Clutch disc 14 spline seems centered and the disc tool goes right in. It is so hard to lay on the floor and do this. I had to walk away.
Phil.

Get some 1/2 inch rod. Use the rod in the 2 upper holes to help support the transmission and guide it in. Turn the tailshaft of the transmission, and bounce the transmission up and down and left and right till it finds it's way in. Remove the rod and tighten the bolts.

Ya see, that's why I love the Internet! Going to home depot first thing in the am.
Great idea! Thanks swing daddy.
Ps) that's if my body can move in the am!

if you cut the collar did you check the length of the pilot shaft? I may be mistaken but some transmissions have a longer end and you will to cut it to the same lenght as the old one was.

I cut the collar as per the instructions that came with the spacer plate from "hot rod works" I think the pilot shaft is ok, but I will double check.

Here is the plate I got

http://www.hotrodworks.com/catalog/...48-1983-chevy-pu-and-1955-1983-cars.html

On jobs without an adapter plate I shorten the pilot part of the front shaft 1/4" and the front bearing retainer 1".

Thanks agian, great idea with the 1/2 rod. Bought to 1/2 threaded foot long pieces today and cut in half. Threaded two into top, and slid other two in bottom.
I thought the plate I bought might be holding it up to, so I carefully sanded a little aluminum of and chamferd the opening where the t5 collar goes into it. Slight grease around the edge. With it attached to bellhousing (it fits very snug), I wrapped a nylon slip knot strap around the front of trans.
My daughter 21, stradled the center floor opening and sat centered in the seat holding the strap. I got on the floor and with a 1-2-3 lift, it went up, slid on rods, and as I got to the pilot bushing, I told my daughter to slide over and step on clutch. As soon as she did with me pushing the tail forward, presto, right in!
Removed rods, tightened it all up, put my junkyard Astro van driveshaft in which was 3 inches shorter than mine, freshly sanded/painted and both new u-joints in place, went right in!
I will keep you all posted. Still rebuiling the aquired 235 too, just thought I would go for fitment, and stich weld the 216 block for the coolane leak and drive it a while.

what year truck are you working on?

It is a 1953 1/2 ton.

Looks like a decent truck in that mini, mini photo. Hope so anyway. Glad to read the T5 went smoothly with that extra help.
Very nice '56 by the way.

Fiftee3:

I don't suppose you took any pictures of the install? I need to install the 3 speed overdrive I got for my 58 Burb soon. I'd hate to bust my hump trying to muscle the tranny up into the motor. I'd like to capitalize on your lessons learned.

If you didn't get pictures during the install can you post a picture of the rods you used?

Wow! Are you saying that an Astro van DS is just the right length? I read this whole post with great interest because I have a 1988 Camaro T5 and will be installing later this summer. My plan was to use the Camaro DS yoke on my factory 65 DS and then have the DS cut down to proper size. If an Astro DS works, then I'll do that instead. Cool!

Drew, the mini pic on my website is actually a link. I put the link to my truck pics on my signature now.

Larry, sorry I didn't take pics. You know, I've done so many things to my 56 210 and never photographed like I should. I always think I'm learning status! But I will be happy to help if possible. It was suggested here I use rod to align. I bought 2 lengths of 1/2 threaded rod at home depot. 1.20 ea, foot long. I cut 2, 4 inch pieces of one and threaded into the top of bellhousing. I cut the other into 6 inch lengths and put into bottom two holes and put nuts on inside so the wouldn't fall out. You can then lift it up and get the spline thru the throw out bearing and onto the rod, and take a breath to get blood back into you arms! Then, twist, bounce, push it in. As I said, I had my daughter step on clutch when I knew splines were thru the disc. Using the trans seemed to go right in when clutch was depressed rather than relying on that plastic clutch tool.

Lug nuts, yes, the astro van ds worked for me. Measure your old shaft from center of rear u joint where it goes thru the ds, to the center of the front u joint. My old one was 53", so my t5 tailshaft was 3" longer, so I needed a 50". Now my plate between trans was about a 1/2 inch, but I had room on old shaft so I knew I'd be ok.
Here's wher I got mine. I paid, they shipped quick, nicely boxed. They have another now.

www.ebay.com/itm/1996-Chevy-Astro-Van-Rear-Drive-Shaft-26050308-50-U-U-Joint-/221153527313?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AAstro&hash=item337dc70611&vxp=mtr

Scroll down to the red, Important please read. They give the specs there. Hope this helps. Usually, I'm the guy that asks...

Fiftee3;

Roger, got it. I'll pick up some rod at home depot. I'll probably put a new clutch in while I have the trans out too.