Getting ready to remove my busted 305 for a 350. My question is how do you get to the bell housing bolts?! Im to the point now where I havent everything unhooked except I cant get my big mits in there to unfasten the trans from the block. Do i have to take them both out at once?

 

pull the distributor. if you can't get them from the top, unbolt the tranny crossmember and let it tilt back and get them with a long extension.

 

How many bolts are holding the two together? I might have to farm this job out. My jack doesnt go nearly high enough to get enough room to perform that kind of work on it. arrgg!

 

Edit: Never mind, didn't see the other post.


You would need some jack stands if you're working under the car though.

 

6 bolts between the bellhousing and engine. Don't climb under there without jackstands holding the car up.

Gotta get to the bolts however you can. Top bolts you can often get with a long 9/16 from the top (pull the distributor first). Most you get from below using whatever you can to reach them- universal joint sockets, a few wobble drive extensions stacked together, etc. Whatever you need to do to get on them.

 

If it is an option for you, I always just pull the motor and tranny together, just make sure the car is high enough off of the ground for the tranny to drop down.

Good luck!

 

I removed the heads and the top 4 came out with out much trouble, and the bottom 2 i obviously did from underneath, also not that bad, the first time I pulled the motor i did it with the heads on and it wasnt nearly as easy.

 

Some pretty useful information in this thread.

 

Thanks guys. I do have the car on jack stands, but my aluminum jack doesnt go that much higher, so im kind of maxed out on how high i can get the car off the ground.

I called around and its going to cost me about 400-500 bucks to have someone do this for me, so I gotta figure something out. I like the idea of removing the heads to provide more access to the top bolts. I will try that.

I thought about pulling both at the same time, but that goes back to probelm #1.. car not high enough off the ground.

 

by long 9/16 you mean wrench?

 

you don't need to pull the heads just to remove 2 bolts. go to sears or some tool store and get a good 9/16 wrench. look for a flex head gearwrench. if you need more leverage just hook a box end wrench on to the wrench thats on the bolt. thats hard explain but do you know that trick?

 

Okay.. I think I have a good wrench of that size. Is a longer wrench better? Yes I know the trick. I will give it a shot and save myself 400

 

well jack the front end up set it on jack stands first. now look around for a short4x4 piece of wood. stick it on top of the jack and put it back under and there is an xtra 4 inches

 

long socket extensions and uni or wobble joints are essential for bellhousing bolts on most cars.
The top two are usually a bitch. on several cars i have found it easier to remove the shifter assembly and reach them through there, but i havent really looked at that possibility on the f-bodys.
I just did the same job today on an '86 chevy pickup w/ the 305.
the top 2 bolts were rusty and partially stripped already, so i couldnt get the socket on them well enough. since im junking the rest of the truck I cut a hole in the floor at the top of the bellhousing. bolts are right there, easy as pie. If i was going to make that a project truck, i think i would have done the same thing although cleaner, and install an inspection port. those bolts are particularly hard to access on this truck. just some ideas for you.

 

If you're looking at $400-$500 to have it done then Invest in a decent jack with jack stands.
IIRC, you can get a 3 ton jack with two stands for $100 at Sears or something. It's not worth skimping on something like that. Make sure you're using the stable 4 corner stands.

 

Get an open end wrench set like this:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...cheting+wrench

It will take you a few minutes but it is possible, I have done it.

One of the most useful tools I have ever bought.

 

oh i have a jack and like 3 sets of stands. problem is jack doesnt go that high.. or atleast not high enough to drop tranny down too much.

 

thanks. those look awesome. I'll give the bolts another crack tomorrow.

 

I use a 6x6 wood blocks and set my jack on top of themDo each side a little at a time till u get the stands high enough.