Transmission removal without a lift

How high am I going to need to block up my 73 Cuda to remove the 727 Torqueflight for a rebuild? No lift available. I have a good floor jack and would probably make an adapter plate to strap the trans to the lift for bringing it down. The shops I've been talking to want an extra $400+ for them to do the in/out. Seems like I'd need to get it higher than it is currently on stands that are fully extended.

the problem you will find is when the car is high enough to drop the tranny out your floor jack cant jack high enough to put the tranny back in----get out your tape measure-----you need 17 inches clearance to pull the tranny on the floor under the floorboards----it cant even be on the jack at that point----putting it back in---slide it on the floor----get under the car with the jack----lift up the tranny and put it up on the jack----jack up the jack and wish that the jack could go higher.....

That's how I have always done it. Get it down, slide it off the jack and drag it out on the floor. In in the reverse order. My new shop is getting a lift cause I am getting too old for that!

Get a low profile transmission jack and it isn't too bad to change one on jack stands.

The problem I had with my first trans jack was to get the car high enough to get the jack and trans out from under the car then there wasn't enough lift to get the trans up high enough to bolt back up. The one I have now will lift 30 inches from floor to bottom of pan. I made 14" high boxes that the tires set on, no jack stands. Strips front and back to keep from rolling off.
Still a pain at 69.
Lifts a Black Hawk big truck type.

I use a motorcycle jack to RR trans with car on jackstands.....Sometimes need to lift car a little higher to get trans in and out on jack. No biggie.

https://www.harborfreight.com/450-lbs-low-lift-transmission-jack-61232.html

these things work great...and get a 20% of coupon...

suggestion- make sure to get the upper bellhousing bolts out from the top before putting the car on jackstands

$200 each way. No fluid to clean up, no cuts, no bruises, no mistakes and no oh shits. Drive in, drive out. Why would you want to do it yourself?

This +6ton jack stands, no problem.

I have a pair of 12tons that get things a little higher, but 6tons will do.

I agree,I've used one with jack stands no problem.

This and a used Kwik Lift made my 518 swap easy

Definitely, makes the job much easier.

I did quite a few on the ground.Even before I had a good floor jack.Just get it high enough.I pulled the dip stick tube first after draining fluid.Ive done my 4 speed on the ground also.Used to set it on my chest and heft it into place.last time I didthe 4 speed had my sons stab it in.LOL One advantage to having grown sons whe you get old.Rocky

18 inches should do it with just a couple inches to spare. EDIT 18 inches PLUS the height of your jack, cradle, etc (unless you can slide the jack apparatus out from under the transmission once lowered)...

I've changed a bunch this way, before I had a floor jack I'd drag them up on my abdomen and lift them up in place. Too old for that now, have a lift and high lift transmission jack, much easier now. lol

Skip the transmission jack, it makes it too high and awkward to get out when you're doing it on the floor. A normal floor jack is all you need. Like others said if the car is too low to get it out slide it off the jack, I usually put cardboard down to make it easier to slide around. The last one I pulled took less then an hour.

I like using the Harbor Freight 12 ton jackstands for the front and the regular 6 ton stands for the rear axle. 1 set of 4 of each of those jackstands and a Costco $90 3-ton floor jack have served me well for decades.

I use the regular floor jack to slide it in and out with no issues, but it has slipped off once or twice. Hands to self when that happens. I can still lift them up and put it in by hand, but only because I work out at the gym. If I don't go regularly, that ability goes away and chance of injury in general goes up.

I've been R&R'ing the trans for 40 years by myself that way. A lift would require a dedicated, tall transmission jack for lifts, and then the lift is in the way in a small shop.

Lifting the car up onto the highest setting of the 12 tone jackstands makes it nice for polishing the sides and lowers too.

Done it many times with other cars too..I used the jack with a piece of wood, dropped it down and dragged it out on the floor with cardboard.

Ever try and do one without anything but your body ? I did years ago,in and out but I was young and dumb then,now just dumb !!

did it many times, tall jack stands,floor jack...2x4 between drag link and oil pan

i always slide mine off onto a low profile creeper.

In the past I have used a floor jack to set it down on stacks of 2x and 4x wood under the front and rear of the transmission. Then I slid the jack out and removed the wood at each end one piece at a time until it was on the ground and pulled it out. Installation was the same procedure in reverse.

As long as you have enough ground clearance between the top of the bell housing when it's on the ground and the rocker panel your good.

I've got it up right now to work on the front suspension and I've got at least 17" to the floor pan and I can get a couple more inches if I need to. Now the question will be, do I want to mess with it when the time comes...

I have used allthread fo make long studs to make it easy lining up the trans for reassembly too.

I used to be able to do it on the floor,but when the age catches up the mind says yes,,,and the body says NO.That being said I used the floor jack till I bought the M/C jack.Either way I had to tilt the tail up to clear the bellhousing to get it out fromunder and twist the trans to clear the headers.Just need to be carfull with the trans getting on & off the jack you're using.

Looks like the same craftsman motorcycle jack I use....I paid $89 for it