I don't know a whole lot about cars so please, bear with me
So I bought an '89 Camaro RS V6 manual 5 speed from craigslist that needed a new clutch. My brother helped me remove it and buy a new part but he had to leave before I could get the part and install it so me and my dad went to do it. Unfortunately my dad cant really get around on the ground much and his experience with cars is more for older ones and hes never had a camaro. So we got the clutch bolted on and went to replace the transmission but found that the torque arm (i believe thats what its called, its a long metal bar that bolts onto the rear axle and the side of the transmission) was all the way up and in the way of the transmission. We can't simply pull it down and out of the way. So my question is, whats the correct way to get it out of the way? It's under tension correct? I assume I can't simply unbolt it from the rear axle? Could rotating the real axle so the arm comes down be an option? Any help is appreciated!

 

Put the stands under the frame instead of under the axle.

 

Yeah, put jackstands under the rear control arm mount area... you'll see the beefy areas there. Then unbolt the torque arm. They're some big bolts, though. Also, note that the bolt goes in through the top. Reinstall them that way. They do that so in case the nut comes off the bottom, the bolts are still there to hold it in place. Safety thing.

Anyway removing the torque arm should allow you do whatever you need to do.

 

Or leave the torque arm on even. Once the weight is off the axle you'll be able to move it around.

 

We actually had the front on jacks and the back tires on some stepping stones (with the emergency brake on of course) because we didn't have any more jacks, but I assume the problem is still the same. We're gonna go buy some more jack stands and do what you said. Thanks so much!

 

Easiest way to do it, is to put the "frame" up on jack stands as described, with the stands supporting the big "pad" right in front of where the lower conrol arms bolt to the "frame". Then jack the rear up just an inch or so, and put a 2nd set of stands under the axle tubes. Not the pumpkin, not the shock brackets, not ANYTHING ELSE; under the axle tubes. Set them so they hold the rear just barely up off of as low as it can drop.