Transmission install tips

[George 86na]

I had the unfortunate pleasure to replacing the clutch in a co-workers 94 240SX. I had previously done clutches in several other Nissan products, and generally find them pretty easy to do. Sadly, whoever designed the firewall in the 240 needs to be taken behind the woodshed and smacked around a little bit.

Anyway, after a few hours of torture trying to get the transmission past the firewall, I came up with the following method which enabled me to get the transmission up to the engine in less than 15 minutes.

Basically, I removed the 4 nuts that attach the engine crossmember to the body of the car, and let the engine drop down about 3 inches. This was facilitated with the use of a engine hoist. Suddenly there was enough clearance for the transmission to slide right past the obstructive firewall. This also might be doable with a floor jack (or 2) along the bottom of the engine crossmember, but if you are also holding the transmission up with a floor jack, things might start to get crowded under the car.

I wrapped one end of the engine hoist chain around the exhaust manifold, and bolted the other end to one of the two bolts on the front right side of the cylinder head (left side if you are standing at the front of the engine bay looking towards the back.) As a side note, I first tried loosening the nuts holding the crossmember as far as they would go without removing them, this drops the engine about 1", which isn't quite far enough.

To further simplify matters, take the two starter bolts and once you get the input shaft of the transmission through the clutch hole (bellhousing about 1"-2" from the engine,) you bolt them into two of the bolt holes on opposite sides of the bellhousing. Zing, the transmission slid right up to the engine in one shot.

Figured this might save some people some aggravation. Remember to support the engine before you unbolt the crossmember.

[willcharl]

thank you this was the best advice that i had found anywhere. my friend and i spent about 3 hours the other night trying to get his transmission back in. so then i found your post today. we tried it and we had he transmission in; in about 9-10 mins.

thank you again for your post

[krazydriver]

Mine was the same way when i replaced my clutch. The reason is the engine mounts are usually old, soft and demolished.In my case i just used a ratchet strap secured to the front swaybar to pull the engine forward. After this the transmission went right on.

[HoosierSX]

unbolted mine and it only goes down about 1 inch

[Goldeneagle]

Lowering, not dropping, the front crossmember gives you more room as well.

[scottydog]

A lot of guys loosen the engine mount bolts, and jack up the front of the engine a bit, tilting it back. It still took some twisting/turning of the transmission to get it back in.

[straightracen123]

dude!!1 This is the best post ever after struggleing for hours!! Funny how post can pay off years later

[240sx.s13.MN]

So yesterday I was putting my new clutch in my 1990 240sx with an red top sr20det swap! I fought for 6 hours with 4 buddy's trying to get my transmission back in place! Saturday I will be doing this it's sounds straight fwd! Thanks for posting this!