So.....how hard is it to replace tranny s***?

[Chowder Head]

I made a thread over at the cookie korral asking if it's possible to remove the stock exhaust without cutting off the tail pipes.  I'm pretty sure it's required but it never hurts to double check.

http://69.13.120.175/forums/showthread.php?t=429734

  I put exhaust on it (took the time to get the stock mufflers off without cutting) but now I am thinking about putting it back on and selling it. 

Dudes got a 93, not a SN95. 

I'm not positive if there IS a difference but there could be.  I got a reply from my corral thread and a guy who has a 94/95 mentions it is possible.  Think I'll have another go before I purchase the saw.

[Kevins89notch5.0]

Worst case, you take a wheel off, unbolt the quad and regular shock, and take it out sideways.  Its more work, but free.

[Dave88LX]

Yeah it's getting there.

[Chowder Head]

Update, got myself the cheapie $20 saw about a week ago and holy s***, it worked amazingly well. Very glad I bought it. For only $20, I feared it might be a little weak but that wasn't the case.

Now, the only thing exhaust wise that needs to come off are taking off the stock headers which looks like cake...but I have a question.  To get my stock exhaust completely off, do I need to disenage anything else? Maybe crap for the emissions or anything? Or do I just need to take off my oxygen sensors, take off the stock shorties, and everything should come on off?

Last question for right now. I still can't decide what I should do about my flywheel. Resurface the stock one, get a billet steel one, or get an aluminum one. This car is 100% street. I've heard both pros and cons about a street cars with steel and aluminum flywheels so of course, I can't decide. Any thoughts?

Thanks guys.

[BadAndy]

if you're strapped for cash get the stocker resurfaced. otherwise get a billet one.

[Chowder Head]

Hmmm....

Can someone please tell me how the hell I'm supposed to remove a few of the header bolts I have left? I'm trying to make as much clearance room as I can but some of those bolts are in a really b**** part.

On the passenger ide, I removed the air cleaner housing, and a few other stuff but it's simply not enough. I think I have 4 or 6 bolts left, and they are all located in either the very top or the very bottom part on the headers when looking at it from the front of the engine....if that makes sense.  Basically, the bolts on the ends.

They're in a horrid part and I'm not having any success. I tried using a socket wrench with a small extension and without the extension but the wrench keeps hitting obstructions when I'm trying to loosen them.

Is there a certain tool or tools I should look at to help me from slitting my jugular?

On a plus side, as soon as I remove the exhaust system, and the starter and such, it's tranny dropping and clutch replacing time. So I should be finally finished with my car in approximately half a century. Woo.

[Dan]

As fun as it sounds, I always removed header bolts with a hand wrench. Wear a Mechanix glove or something because you will beat the crap out of your knuckles.

[EVIL5LITER]

And you dumbasses told him he could do it himself. 

I told you that he should pay someone. 

How long has this job taken now?  How many weeks?

[Kevins89notch5.0]

And you dumbasses told him he could do it himself. 

No, I told him I could drive down, and have it done in a day.

[BadAndy]

As fun as it sounds, I always removed header bolts with a hand wrench. Wear a Mechanix glove or something because you will beat the crap out of your knuckles.

That's how I usually do it. I'll start with a ratchet to get the easy ones off and move to a wrench for the rest. It sucks balls but it gets the job done.

[Chowder Head]

And you dumbasses told him he could do it himself. 

I told you that he should pay someone. 

How long has this job taken now?  How many weeks?

I can, and will do it by myself.  I don't appreciate being told I can't do something.

The only reason why I started this project is because I have a way to get to class and work. I have to drive my mom to her work place in the morning, but that's only like a 20 min commute.

And the only reason why this is taking so long is because I simply don't have a lot of free time. School related activities consume my life and if I'm not at school, I'm at work.

I'm fine doing my car in small increments. It'll take longer but I will save a crap load of money I would of spent on labor, I'll gain skills I didn't have before and finally, I'll have something to be proud of.

So that is the reason this is taking so long.

Dan, Andy, thanks for actually trying to help. If I have some free time tomorrow, I'll give that a shot and see what happens.

[Dan]

Take SteAve with a grain of salt, he's just giving you s*** man.

You'll get 'ir done. I bought a Bullitt gas door to throw on the SVT but haven't done it in weeks. Why? School + work. It's a simple job but time constraints are a motherf***er. I feel for ya.

[Chowder Head]

Take SteAve with a grain of salt, he's just giving you s*** man.

But the question is was it really necessary?

Yeah, a gas door seems pretty simple man. Nice to know someone else going through what I'm going through.

[BadAndy]

No it wasn't necessary but look who it came from

[ELB 1]

Why not just unbolt the motor mounts?

[Kevins89notch5.0]

Just for this thread, tonight I went out and yanked the tremec 600 from my 89.  Now I just have to deliever it to Miami.

[ELB 1]

Why did you take it out?  Did I miss something?

[Kevins89notch5.0]

Why did you take it out?  Did I miss something?

Selling the full tremec 600 setup minus driveshaft for $1800 to a guy in Miami.  I'll also be selling the S-Trim shortly.  Those two items will help offset the price of my 93 cobra.

[Dave88LX]

And you dumbasses told him he could do it himself. 

I told you that he should pay someone. 

How long has this job taken now?  How many weeks?

Quit being a b**** Steve.  You weren't born with a golden wrench in your hand either.  First time I took my H-Pipe off it took over 4 hours because of stupid s*** going wrong.  Rusted header bolts were no walk in the park either.  He'll get it done.  I know that you like to feel that you are the only person around here that can turn a wrench, but you're not.  You've told other people they couldn't accomplish things either and they've done very well.

[Dave88LX]

Chowderface, as they said try using hand wrenches; and another option is using swivels and the 'loose knuckle' extensions made by Companion from Sears. 

[Chris Wilson]

As others have said, Header bolts take a combination of wrenches, sockets, ratchets, etc.  No one tool is going to get them all. 

[Dan]

As others have said, Header bolts take a combination of wrenches, sockets, ratchets, etc.  No one tool is going to get them all. 

And beer too, lots of beer.

[EVIL5LITER]

And you dumbasses told him he could do it himself. 

I told you that he should pay someone. 

How long has this job taken now?  How many weeks?

Quit being a b**** Steve.  You weren't born with a golden wrench in your hand either.  First time I took my H-Pipe off it took over 4 hours because of stupid s*** going wrong.  Rusted header bolts were no walk in the park either.  He'll get it done.  I know that you like to feel that you are the only person around here that can turn a wrench, but you're not.  You've told other people they couldn't accomplish things either and they've done very well.

I don't do my own work anymore, either.  I gave up on that s*** a long time ago. 

What I'm tired of is people on the internet telling other people how easy it is to do "X" when they've never done it themselves.  This internet mentality is the reason so many people are getting bit by cars anymore. 

People just don't understand.  You pay people to work on your stuff for two reasons:  1) You don't have the skill/talent/tools/time to do it, or 2) You don't want to do it. 

This is not meant to be insulting to Chowdie.  He's a great guy.  I'm sure if he had the time and place, he'd have no problem with doing this. 

But the truth of the matter is, he doesn't have time.  This car is his transportation.  Furthermore, I imagine just like the rest of us, he is on a budget, which means he cannot afford to do this over again.  It's too late now, but I would encourage him to nut up and just pay someone to do it, next time.  At least then, if something goes wrong, he has some chance of things being made right.  If something goes wrong here, he can't go to all the people on the internet that gave him bad advice/wrong information and get the money back from them. 

And yes, I am being a jerk/a******/cumwad/whatever.  For the last 4-5 months, I've been pretty f***ed up, physically.  As it is now, for the past, oh, I'd say, six weeks, I have been in pain 24/7.  Pills, no pills, it doesn't matter.  At this point, I'm about ready to have my jaw wired shut if it will f***ing fix this bulls***.  My headaches are so bad anymore I can't see straight and can't think coherently. 

So please, give me a little slack if I bite your head off. 

[Kevins89notch5.0]

What I'm tired of is people on the internet telling other people how easy it is to do "X" when they've never done it themselves.  This internet mentality is the reason so many people are getting bit by cars anymore. 

He asked about replacing a throw out bearing or something along those lines, not if he should rebuild his bottom end.  I think at least a majority of mustang owner at most forums can easily replace a clutch on their own.

[EVIL5LITER]

You'd be amazed.  I've had cars come in here for worse s*** than that. 

I had one guy that had bought a used set of headers, and brought it in here when he couldn't fix the exhaust leaks. 

He had bought a set of 4v headers and put them on a 2v motor. 

[Dave88LX]

What I'm tired of is people on the internet telling other people how easy it is to do "X" when they've never done it themselves.  This internet mentality is the reason so many people are getting bit by cars anymore.

I've done it myself thank you very much.

[Chowder Head]

Sweet!

I actually have a day off today and my entire exhaust system is now ripped out except for the driver sides header; I simply haven't attempted those last few bolts. I figured I'd remove the headers after I'm done with the transmission to limit the chance of debris entering my cylinder ports.

Now I gotta find some kitty litter or something to clean up the mess I made when I emptied out my tranny fluid. I knew the second I released the plug it would shoot on out but knowing this didn't really help.

After I get the mess under control, I believe it's time to do some tranny work!

[Kevins89notch5.0]

Good to hear you're making some progress.  I'm about to head out and go clean up the cobra myself.

I believe it's time to do some tranny work!

IBpage10

[BadAndy]

Which bolts on the drivers side are you having trouble with? I don't feel like going through the past pages but which header gaskets are you using?

[Chowder Head]

Only one I haven't loosened so far is the left bolt at cylinder #5. It's tricky looking but I believe if I go at it and try some extensions like I did with the last ones, I shouldn't have too much of a problem.

For header gaskets, I'll be using the Fel-Pro 1415 gaskets. I've head too many bad things about the piece BBK gives you.