I'm dropping my trans to replace the flexplate. I have the front frame up on stands and have the rear axle up on stands... How much pressure will be on the torque arm? Can I just unbolt it from the trans side? It will want to go up wont it? I put a 2x4 above it, should that be good enough?

Yes, it'll have some upward pressure. But the length of the torque arm is such that it'll give you the leverage to pull down on it easily, even if you're a skinny 140 lb. weakling.

Might want to help yourself with a jack under the "pumpkin". Position the jack more on the outside edge toward the back of the car. That way when you jack up on it, it will tilt down therefore tilting the torque arm down. This is especially helpful when you reinstall it.

He's got the rear axle sitting on stands. Jacking up on the axle won't do anything but lift the car. If the axle was hanging freely, though, it'd be another story. Seriously, though, you won't even need the help. Just grab it and pull it down.

In that case he needs to put the jackstands under the rear frames. Have you ever done this before ? I have... quite a few times. It will tilt the whole rear end down making it A LOT easier to take it off as well as putting it back on. Trust me... it works very well.

I've removed a tranny 13 times and counting. At one point, I got to where I could drive it in, put it in the air, and have the tranny on the table in 20 minutes. Not an exagguration.. I actually timed it. Always on a lift though. Never needed to jack up the rear, just pull down on the TA with right hand, open the clam shell with left, and gently let it up to rest against the tunnel. Anyway, it doesn't matter, as long as you get it out safely, right? I'm not gonna get into a pissing contest over something so unimportant. (I could mistaken thinking that "Have you ever done this before?" comment was aimed at me instead of Alan.)

That comment was aimed at you, but I see you have done this before... ON A LIFT. See, not everybody has a lift. I was giving him info on how to do it using regular jackstands.

Thanks for the info guys... The main thing I wanted to make sure is that it was going to want to go up tward the floor boards.. I thought it would with the spring pressure and all. I've taken the torque arm loose before, but it was when I was removing the rear end..

put the front frame on jack stands
and the rear frame
let the rear hang down a little to get the TA off
putting it back on drop the rear as far as you can really, bolt it up jack the rear up reinstall stupid rubber pany in the ***(if it's poly urethane)

i did this stuff yesterday..

Ummmmm, when i did my motor swap i removed everything back to the rear end....jack stands on the rearend and stands in the swaybar mounts up front....ummm I removed the two big bolts in the back then just slid out the TA.....not too much a problem, in fact not a problem at all, I even removed the TA from the rear of the black camaro.....the rear end was just hanging there on the shocks, just used a nice and handy impact gun and a they where out in 20 seconds....thats done...in other words, just take out the two huge bolts on the back of the TA.