Happens all the time Mike. The plans so far for this week include this trans swap (if needed), a ford van motor swap and an 05 GP hud fix.

That'* just what is planned for Mon/Tues, although it can't alll happen in those days.

Can I schedule an appt for my car later this spring for a #2 value repair job?

Sure..lol

Got the car into the bay and hooked up the battery charger. Starter clicked as if the bendix was pushing out, but not turning the motor. I was hoping it would start and drive.

Up in the air and I pulled the majority of the trans bolts. Oddly enough no fluid came out. Plastic that covers the starter/flex inspection area was out of whack, one wheel splash shield missing, tie rods on with a couple of threads, trans to engine bolts were snug, not tight, TC bolts snug not tight. Hmmmm

Here'* what was in the pan when I took it down.



Tie rod end, murdered boots on both sides.


Motor mount has seen better years


Picked up a pile of parts and took the trans out last night. Made the girl dinner as it was her first day at a new job.

Ya, that trans is not looking good. From the sounds of it, someone had the idea that I can fix that, but had no clue how to do it. Then gave up.

Dan, I'm fairly confused by this one.

New owner of the car said the guy'* buddy said the guy took out the trans and put it back in.

Tie rods weren't in or tights. Clearly broken free with a pickle fork and probably had trouble with them spinning upon reinstallation. Balljoints had no cotter pins. Trans to engine bolts had been broken free at some point, that'* the last step in pulling a trans. The cradle bolts were untouhed. The rack bolts were untouched, it appears the ps lines at the pump may have been messed with. Trans lines had been off, they were easy to crack free and their holding bracket was hanging off the trans lines. It was kind of nice since the usual items didn't fight.

Clearly a bunch of work was done before they gave up or put it back together. Engine mount and trans mount nuts didn't appear to have been touched in a long time.

Bill,

Great thread, keep the updates coming.

My guess is they had no clue. Ya, we can do that. And they started. Didn't take long before they realized, how are we going to get this out? It don't fit threw the sub frame. This is more work then we thought. So put most of it back. Dropping a trans sounds easy. And it is, if you know the steps. But when you don't know the steps, it'* really hard.

The battery cable on the starter kinda says it all. LOL

Found a couple good sized bolts in the bucket for the engine mount, there'* a few nuts laying around on the subframe. I laugh everytime I see something else.

VSS was plugged in and .....this is huge, that little wire loom with the brown clip that slides over the VSS stud was still in place. Look to the right and the oil pressure sensor is unplugged.

Now keep in mind...each time I look up, there'* that hood liner.

We all have to deal with pain in our own way.

That car had me at the hood liner...