Author Topic: Replacing a transmission, question. (Read 5840 times)

DieselSteed · « **on:** March 31, 2007, 06:30:59 pm »

Now that the warmer weather has finally arrived, its time for me to finish up some projects I have been neglecting during the winter, and replacing a transmission in my '87 Jetta is one of them. It looks like I can replace it without removing the engine from the car. My questions are: Has anyone else attempted this shortcut? How big a pain is it? Thanks in advance.

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2007, 06:34:35 pm »

yea you can leave the engine in place for sure. just raise the car up, leave the cv's on the car, unbolt the motor from tranny, remove the one tranny mount and it will come clean (after you disconnect the speedo cable, and clutch cable.

a friend who works on gm cars was so impressed by how easy it was to remove everything... even more impressed by the way that the front rad support comes out so i could get right in there and clean some crap out :lol: just get a nice little stool and go to town!

DieselSteed · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2007, 07:05:25 pm »

Thanks. I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2007, 08:47:53 pm »

You need to support the engine. Either with a 2X4 across the fenders (on the inner lip, not on the tops of them) with an eye hook type deal that you can tighten or lower in the middle (for supporting the engine).

You can just use a jack(stand) under the oilpan if you want.

Make sure you have the correct bit for the CV bolts or you'll make the job 100X harder

jtanguay · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2007, 09:22:57 pm »

Quote from: "burn_your_money"

You need to support the engine. Either with a 2X4 across the fenders (on the inner lip, not on the tops of them) with an eye hook type deal that you can tighten or lower in the middle (for supporting the engine).

You can just use a jack(stand) under the oilpan if you want.

Make sure you have the correct bit for the CV bolts or you'll make the job 100X harder

yea i forgot to mention the support engine part!

the transmission can be held by the cv's and the one mount though.

yea 8mm 12 point tool! its special and runs what... $20? or so? i've tried taking those bolts without it... what a PITA!

burn_your_money · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2007, 09:57:40 pm »

you can get them at autozone for $8 or c-tire for $20 and you get a pack of four, includes the 12mm for the head

Kudagra · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2007, 07:19:05 am »

#1 thing to remember when using those 12 point (tripple square) tools. PERFECTLY CLEAN out the hole before even trying to put the tool in. Just a little crud doesnt let it fully insert into the bolt and it will get fookered up. Best is using a pick to loosen up the packed in stuff then blow it out with compressed air.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2007, 07:39:50 am »

and then hammer the tool in there to ensure a solid fit.

jtanguay · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2007, 12:31:17 pm »

Quote from: "burn_your_money"

and then hammer the tool in there to ensure a solid fit.

i didn't even clean the bolts... just hammered em in! :oops: what a pain to take off afterwards though! :lol:

insdtanoodles · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2007, 05:03:51 pm »

I tried the remove transmission without taking the engine out and it was such a PITA, it would have been much easier if I took the front bumper off and removed the rad for easier access.

RabbitJockey · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2007, 06:08:00 pm »

i'm not a fan of removing the tranny, but it is a fairly quick job, it's even easier on a mk1 as compared to a mk2

burn_your_money · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2007, 07:36:15 pm »

everything is easier on a mk1, I worked on my first mk3 today, what a pain that was

jtanguay · « **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2007, 08:43:50 pm »

i guess the only real trouble with removing the tranny with engine installed is getting at the right side CV bolts... i've done it with the car dripping in my face lol. that sucked!

DieselSteed · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2007, 07:47:14 am »

Thanks for the reply guys. The tranny is out and it seems it stuck on everything on the way out but it is out with the engine still in the car :lol: The job was cut short because it started raining.