I just bought an 87 GTA not long ago knowing that the transmission was probably going to need replaced. Unfortunately the car sat for quite some time and I've had to put a lot into getting everything back into shape. So now its finally time for the trans. Which I am certain has lost its 3rd 4th clutch pack due to the previous owner having the TV cable very loose and probably driving it that way for some time... Anyways, I have researched and printed out what I've found but I'm still having problems as I have never removed a transmission before.
I think I understand most everything I need to do. I already have the car high enough safely, have removed the distributor, linkage, and speedometer. Here is what is holding me up at the moment...
I think my next step should be to remove the driveline and torque arm. What I'm unclear on is do I remove the entire driveline, front and back or just the front where it goes into the transmission? Should I remove the torque arm first? And a little confused on how to do that seems to be 4 bolts... and I know its under tension and I need a wood block, where do I place the wood block to the side towards the floorplan? Wish I could find a guide with pictures on some of this!
Everything I read makes it sound so easy on all the steps but unfortunately to me its not Feeling over my head atm but I have to do it myself to afford a real quality replacement. All the shops around here want 400 bucks and it puts me over budget as the first thing I have to do after getting the transmission in is drive to the tire store and lay down a lot of green for those massive 245,50,16 tires that it has.
But the car is now running great and if I can just get this transmission thing figured out I'll be able to have a great car back on the road that was just sitting and going downhill. So plz help me. Describe it as if to a child Thanks very much for any input or links to good guides, I have tried and just can't find anything anywhere that doesnt just make it sound ez (just do it) no pictures or anything.
Thanks and I think this is a great website and am proud to finally own a 3rd gen. I've wanted one since I was a little kid and found this one calling out to be saved.

 

take off the tranny crossmember, get a jack and a peice of wood and put it up under the middle of the tranny where the member was. remove the driveshaft, remove the torque arm, loosen up the bellhousing bolts, unbolt the torque converter from the flywheel, remove the bellhousing bolts. remove the dipstick tube for the tranny. slowly let down the jack and remove from under car.


install in reverse order

 

You need a tranny plug for the rear of the tranny - to keep the fluid from leaking out when you remove the driveshaft. They sell them almost any auto parts store, or the right size Tylenol bottle will work as well - it has to be like a bottle, since the tranny rear shaft sticks out inside the rear seal, the shaft goes into the bottle, the rear seal seals up against the outside of the bottle.

You want the rear of the car jacked higher than the front, so that the tranny fluid runs forward.

Then, remove the rear of the driveshaft from the differential (4 bolts), then moive driveshaft to the side, and pull it out of the tranny, then insert the plug.

Then, remove TC bolts, crossmember bolts, engine-to-tranny bolts (with jack under tranny), and let it come down/out with TC attached to tranny (so no fluid leaks out of TC). After it's wiggled out from under car, then you can drain fluid, remove TC to drain it, etc.

This all keeps you from crawling around under the car in tranny fluid - since there is no drain plug for it.

BEFORE you reinstall the tranny, have the pan drilled/tapped for a plug, so next time youi can drain the fluid without dropping the pan and/or before tranny removal.

 

Step 1.....Go to Autozone/Pep Boys/Advanced/O'Rielly (whichever is your favorite)
Step 2.....Buy a repair manual. While Haynes is by far not the best out there, it will get you most of any repair issues you encounter & be close enough that you can spot the errors in the book as you go & are easily compensated for.

 

Wow thank you so much I get it now with the driveshaft. And the rest is making sense as well. Thanks for the tips on the fluid too and the idea on getting a drain plug was suprised when I seen it didn't have one lolz Will keep you guys updated, hope to have her on the road in a week or so after 4 years of sitting! Fortunately I live in AZ so the car is solid just had to replace all the vacuam lines air filter distributer and wires. Fix some wires that etc that mice had chewed through and remove some nests yuck. And replace the fuel pump and filter as it died after 3 miles of driving. But its running great now minus the only being able to go to 2nd gear. Anyways thanks will keep updated on progress or if any more questions come up, but think picture is much more clear in my mind now. Again awesome website and great members.

 

If your lowered, don't get a pan with the drain plug in the bottom. It'll get hung up on speed bumps/ramps/whatever & then it'll leak & you'll start losing tranny fluid. Don't ask me how I learned that.....

 

so how exactly did you learn that?

I never remove the torque arm when I pull the tranny...but im also doing it on a lift so im spoiled.

 

i took mine off the rear axle and that was it, i left it in the rubber

 

Progress update as promised. Got the driveshaft removed along with torque control arm and catalytic converter support. Removed the 3 bolts from TC to flywheel. Getting a jack under the tranny to support it as I remove the rear transmission crossmember support. Feel good making progress now.

 

good job, im sorry i forgot about the cat bracket, completely spaced my mind!!

 

Got it out today guys! First time i've ever taken on something that to me is so massive on repairing a car. Plenty of exp. putting on carbs or changing starters etc you know small external things, never ever dreamed of replacing a transmission lol But w/ your guys help it is out and ready to take in as a core. Getting a good quality replacement. Guess pretty much just reverse order on install, hoping it will go faster now that I know(kinda) what I'm doing. Any tips or anything I should watch out for though on putting a different transmission in it? Will be a 700r4 just built better than stock with a new tc. Thanks all!