Gearbox and Drive Shaft Removal

[geordie]

The engine has been out of my car for some time (read too long). The T5, bellhousing and drive shaft are still in the car. I want to remove them before sending the body out for paint.

I'm going to drain the oil out of the gearbox and I can visually see how to remove that. Should I try and separate the bell housing from the gearbox to ease removal? How do I remove a drive shaft? Will oil spill from the rear axle pumpkin when I remove the drive shaft?

Any tips and advice would be appreciated.

 

[SoCalCruising]

Pumpkin will not leak. If you have clearance to remove tranny with bell housing, do so. I can imagine that you may not be able to get the car high enough if using jack stands to do that, though I'd try. Tranny will still likely leak a bit - have rags/cardboard ready to catch spills.

 

[geordie]

Yeah.....that's my concern

 

[SoCalCruising]

Than take off bell housing. You might be glad you did, since, if you don't have a good tranny jack or other means to secure the tranny while lowering it down, you could lose control of it. Might damage the bellhousing.

 

[MrBobMarley]

I installed my t5 with the help of a buddy and 4 jackstands and a couple of solid 12x12 blocks of wood

It went in with the bellhousing on, but I did have it on my chest and basically had to benchpress it up, hold it and had my bud run the bolts up. Haven't had the pleasure of pulling it out yet. T5's are light but if you're not up to it I would follow Socal's advice.

Also, there's a tail plug you can buy to cork the trans where the yoke slides in, this way you don't have to drain it just to pull it. I know the usual mustang vendors carry them. Good luck

 

[geordie]

OK, the gearbox and drive shaft are coming out tomorrow.....maybe.

How do I remove a driveshaft. I believe it's fairly simple, do I have to mark any parts to ensure correct reassembly.

 

[geordie]

The driveshaft was removed last night. With a few precautions it was easy.

Next I want to remove the gearbox. It's a Tremec T5. Per the other replies above, the engine is out. The bell housing is supported. After I lower the gearbox I'm fairly sure that I'm going to have the split the end bell from the gearbox and remove them from under the car separately.

I can see the bolts which secure the bell housing to the gearbox. Is removal of the bell housing as simple as loosening these bolts and spliting the two?

 

[1966conv]

Why not leave the bellhousing attached. Drop the tranny, roll it forward into the engine bay area and lift out?

Am I missing something.

 

[geordie]

Unfortunately the steering rack and lower cross member are still in place. I don't think that there's enough room to move the tranny and bell housing far enough forward to lift them out.

 

[krash kendall]

I'm surprised you still have the crossmember on while doing all this work. Last time I did it with my C4 I just jumped in the engine bay, pulled it forward and passed it to myself over the rad support. If you've already detailed your engine bay then lay a few blankets or beach towels where needed. Like everything else, unbolted what's holding it in then pull 'er out!

 

[turtle99]

Yup,

Just "was"oing this the other night, I carefully lifted the trany and bellhousing into place, nio jackstands. Now I have to put an engine and transmission back into the car. Yeehaw.