Problem Separating Trans From Bell

225 V6 CJ2A project coming along but I had concerns about the trans that was in it. Nothing moved real well inside and synchros were worn. It was sitting 10 years. I decided to swap it for a good unit I have on hand.

Pretty straight forward right? HF trans jack + floor jack under engine. 4 bolts to bell, crossmember bolts.

Good grief! Won't budge! Fighting to pull it out! Could the clutch have enough surface rust to hold this in? Last T90 I pulled came right out -- this one is stuck! assembly will clock slightly so is released from bell. Only the clutch disc splines could be the culprit.

I even tried a come-along + chain wrap to pull rear ward on the assembly -- no dice.

I wonder if I should re-connect the clutch to see if it breaks loose. That too hasn't moved in 10 years

Any experience in this?

 

Sure you got all the bolts out? Try removing the bell housing from the engine? Rubber mallet and a pry bar?

 

Haven’t had to take that particular combo apart but I’ve had to get pretty aggressive with chisel and hammer on a Subaru engine. Make sure the bolts are all out as mentioned above.

 

I removed the 4 bolts at the adapter to Buick bell. Assembly will clock a little because I can see the holes no longer line up -- so no fusion between adapter to bell. I think I will put the come-along back on and change the 2 jack levels small amounts -- 3lb hammer and wood block. If I deform/mangle the clutch disc, at worse I replace it. Im probably getting some "give" from the pressure plate fingers letting a little spline rust stick.

Funny about the Subaru comment -- lots of youtube videos of Suby owners with this problem

 

Any chance to operate the clutch throwout arm? This has a lot of leverage pushing the two apart. Otherwise, consider unbolting the bellhousing from the engine.
The splines of the clutch disc can get rusted to the trans input shaft if there was no trace of lubricant in that area. If this is the case, separating the bellhousing from the engine may not help much.
-Donny

 

Can you get up into the bell to unbolt the 6 bolts on the pressure plate? I have had to take one apart this way before when sitting with a rats nest that filled the whole bell.

 

Any weight on the back of the transmission and the input becomes that much harder to pull out. If you find a solid balance point with the transmission weight it will slide out much easier. Sometimes the key is to go up a hair and then slide back. You could also just remove the bellhousing from the engine - thats a fast and easy way to get it apart.

 

BAM! its out! (and swap completed in 2 hours).

I re positioned the come-along more level -- cable all the way to the rear bumper. I then used the transjack chain around the top of the trans, just around the casting edge. Two cranks and it came out with little effort on to the transjack. I highly recommend this come-along process, no rocking beating, swearing, throwing tools! It also makes installing the T90/D18 assembled quite easy.

Important safety tip: after it breaks loose -- take a minute to wrap that safety chain around the T90/D18 to the trans jack! The T90/D18 does not sit well on that flat slippery plate.

on the install, It took about 15-20 minutes of micro adjusting of the trans jack and gently trying different angles until it just slipped in (be patient, take your time, it will just sink on one of those tries!) Cutoff bolts on the top would have probably cut that down to 5 minutes.

Brian, I sold the black Jeep Putt Putt after I was unemployed for a year in 2007. Sad to see it go, but it went to a good friend up in Big Rapids who gave it the expert sheet metal work it needed. I acquired this white CJ2A in another friend's divorce for $600 (unfinished dauntless swap). She wanted it in the settlement thinking it was worth $6000!! I told him "let her keep it, it benefits your settlement!" He laughed YES! Months later after the ink was dry, she called me "know anyone who wants to buy this Jeep? -- nobody wants it because it doesnt run". I stopped at the bank on the way

I replied (holding back the glee) "I'll be right over, but I don't know if I want to take that on" (but of course I do!) -- she took the $600 cash on the spot! I originally sold the motor/trans for this swap for $600 -- so i guess I got the Jeep free? My friend still laughs to this day because she thought it was worth $6000!

I always wanted a 225 2A and my shed is full of parts -- should be on the road by September -- been tinkering all summer

Brian, I am going to part out the gray CJ5 -- did you say you wanted to buy the Bestop if I parted it?

 

Glad you posted the fix thanks, going after the Jeeps in divorce seems cruel and wrong. Good thing he’s moved on

 

BTDT...6 years ago, but I managed to keep my Jeep