Does anyone have a list of tools I am going to need for a trans install? I am very new to automatic transmissions and was wondering how hard it will be for a noob who is mechanically inclined to do a trans swap, 4L60E-->Built4L60E? I don't have access to a lift but have 24" jackstands and friends to do any heavy lifting. GMHTP had a good 4L60E to T-56 write up not to long ago and it seems pretty straight forward for removal. Anybody with experience have any words of wisdom or insight on this and a rough idea of a time frame for install? Thanks

 

pretty much hand tools those swivel sockets make it alot easier to get the bell housing bolts but as far as specialty tools really dont need any.....14mm for the bell housing bolts, 15mm for the crossmember, and torque arm braket, 13mm for the small bolt on the braket or the bushing, 11mm for the DS bolts, 15 mm for the verter bolts, and some others here and there but all basic hand tools but air tools help...with air i can have one out in 50 mins

 

I'm just did my converter install, which is basically a tranny swap.
I'd buy/rent a trans jack, that is key.
Actually, will 24" jack stands get it high enough to get it out from under it?
I've got mine on concrete blocks right now and couldn't sneak the bell housing out from under the car on my tranny jack.

Although, I'm not done yet so well see if she blows up when I turn the key, everything is going according to plan so far though.

 

If you take the bellhousing off to put on the built trans (if it didnt come with one) you need a special sized torx bit. DO NOT try to use a regular one you will be very sad with the results. I believe its a TX47, I got mine from a traveling snap-on truck for 20$. I ended up stripping 3 of the bolts anyways so I drilled the center out and fit a hex bit into it and they came right out, replaced with regular bolts to save headaches next time.

 

It is not to bad and as long as you have the trans jack I think you should go for it. I did a converter swap and took me three days. Had I not been slow and had more help it is an easy one day job. I really did half days with mine as I started at noon both days and finished up at 7. The hardest part for me was getting the dowel pins loose. I spent probably 3 hrs alone on those. The converter bolts were kind of tricky as well but I heated them up first after the first one seemed like it would not come out and I got them all.

 

Lower is better, I spent the same time, wrenched and wrestled with it.
Dropped the tranny farther than I thought was appropriate, and they popped right off. Its all about the angle.
Penetrating oil didn't hurt either.

[edit] don't need to drop condenser, I was thinking of the motor mount install, sorry[/edit]

Also, here's a link to a TC install as well as this is another article, changing a converter basically requires removing the whole trans, only diff is you don't bolt up a new built one at the end.

 

Also, two 24" extensions will be handy for the top transmission bolt. I have changed put several and lower is better. My jack stands only go to 19" and workds like a champ. Various sockets 10mm, 13mm, 15mm, 18mm and wrenches 10mm, 13mm and 15mm will make it easier.

 

thanks for your help guys do you think this would work well for a trans jack, it's low profile 8" tall and can hold up to 450 lbs. After some research I think it should hold the weight of the trans easy but I can't find the height of a 4L60E so I'm not sure if it would slide out under the car after the tranny is strapped on to it, anyway heres a pic and link:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39178

 

If your doing it yourself I'd look for one that has the directional adjusters, so you can adjust the tilt forward and back, and side to side.
I bought a $150 one from Norther Tool and will prob turn around and sell it for $100, hopefully.

Also, that bellhousing is TALL, I'm not sure what jack will let you roll that thing out from under the car. My car was on blocks @ 10~12" off the ground and I couldn't slide that thing out, even with the floor jack maxed out and a couple blocks of wood on it, the top still got hung up.

 

Well my Performabuilt Level 2 trans, 3500 converter and trans cooler arrived today so wish me luck with the install it should happen sometime this week or coming weekend I'll update everyone on how it goes and how the Performabuilt trans is

 

There's a trans. adapter for the common floor jack:
http://www.toolprice.com/c=ZrzYHlDpx.../product/6902N

 

So how did your install go?