how high does a iroc have to be lifted on jack stands to allow the transmission to be pulled from the bottom, how many teeth show show on a normal 3ton jack?

 

It's not really an exact science, depends a lot on the tools you have available to you. Off the top of my head, I'd say 18-24" from the bottom of the rocker panel to the floor/ground. It's been a little while since I pulled mine. I remember having to take the transmission off the transmission jack & sliding it out from under the car because it was hitting the top of the bellhousing on something under the car with the jack lowered all the way.

 

when lifting the car onto 4 jackstands.
I start at the front, do I put the jack stands so that the handle stand's drop handle is facing to the outside?


so that the two forks would be running with the beam, rather than across the 3in beam?

 

I'm sorry, but I lost you. I don't think it matters where the handle is facing on the jack stands, as long as it's not in the way.

I'm not sure what 3" beam you're talking about in the front end

 

Take my word for it.....the higher you can get the car off the ground, the better. If the car isn't high enough you'll never get the top of the bell housing to clear the "tunnel" or the side of the body no matter how much you tilt the transmission forward.

When I pulled the transmission out of my Safari van, I had to jack the rear of the van off the 3-ton jack stands (jack pad under the differential) and it still wasn't enough. Even with the trans tilted forward on a transmission jack I had to remove a rear tire and pass it through the fender opening.

You want to lift the car higher than a 3-ton jack stand will extend. I'd recommend 6-ton jack stands and a jack that can lift the car high enough to get it on the stands. Put the stands under the a-arm spring pockets in the front and under the axle tubes in the rear.