Firm Feels on the way

Posted By: HogRidinFool

Firm Feels on the way - 06/07/10 05:01 PM

Never changed a gear box before. Anything I need to know? I do have a pitman arm puller. so I'm good there. Service manual says to drop the column...Do I realy to do that? Also, best way to get the couple pin out...Thanks

Posted By: HitIt

Re: Firm Feels on the way - 06/07/10 05:53 PM

You can probably loosen the column and pull it to the rear to free the coupler, but you might just be able to remove the piman arm and frame bolts and pry it loose from the steering coupler.

I'm sure others will answer, but the thing I would say is definitely use plenty of loctite on the box to frame bolts. Those things have a way of working themselves loose, which can be dangerous.

Posted By: HogRidinFool

Re: Firm Feels on the way - 06/08/10 12:27 PM

Posted By: dd340

Re: Firm Feels on the way - 06/08/10 07:23 PM

I just swapped mine power sterring box to a manual. It is not complicated but it sure is a beast to work on it. I found the 3 bolts that hold the box in place a real pain to get at and even worse to get back in, I didn't have much room to work and it was done under the car. Try to get the car raised as much as possible. The other thing that you will almost certainly need to do is unbolt the motor mounts and jack the motor up on the drivers side to give it more clearance to get the box in and out. I would also take out the battery and tray out to give more room to take out the box.

Posted By: 440challenger

Re: Firm Feels on the way - 06/09/10 01:46 AM

just did in an ebody. Have to pull the column (why wouldnt you anyway,takes all of five minutes)
I did it with the motor out, looks liek it would be a nasty job with a big block and supercomp headers

Posted By: mojavered

Re: Firm Feels on the way - 06/09/10 03:57 AM

I just put one in my 71 Challenger with a 440 in it. I did not have my headers on, it was a breeze. Not sure how it would go with headers on?

Posted By: HogRidinFool

Re: Firm Feels on the way - 06/09/10 02:54 PM

Thanks to all for the insite...Looks like a fun job (especially on jack stands).

Is there a secret to getting the pin out of the coupler or is it as easy as knocking it out with a hammer & drift?

Posted By: Ludington1

Re: Firm Feels on the way - 06/09/10 02:58 PM

Quote:

Is there a secret to getting the pin out of the coupler or is it as easy as knocking it out with a hammer & drift?

I went to Sears and got a set of roll-pin punches and it went pretty well. Love my Firm Feel stage 2, that's for sure.

Darren

Posted By: JM67RT

Re: Firm Feels on the way - 06/09/10 04:07 PM

The box can get kinda heavy when you're trying to get it in place while on your back. I've done it on two cars and one thing I did on the second car that helped was I got an extra bolt the same as one of the mounting bolts and cut the head off. I then used this as a locating dowel to get the box in place. I put the remaining two bolts in then switched the dowel for the last bolt. Made the install a whole lot easier IMO.

Posted By: HogRidinFool

Re: Firm Feels on the way - 06/10/10 05:10 PM

Quote:

The box can get kinda heavy when you're trying to get it in place while on your back.

The gear just showed up....You anit lying when you said it's "kinda" heavy!

Thanks all for the input!

Posted By: David_Trimble

Re: Firm Feels on the way - 06/10/10 05:50 PM

Quote:

The box can get kinda heavy when you're trying to get it in place while on your back. I've done it on two cars and one thing I did on the second car that helped was I got an extra bolt the same as one of the mounting bolts and cut the head off. I then used this as a locating dowel to get the box in place. I put the remaining two bolts in then switched the dowel for the last bolt. Made the install a whole lot easier IMO.

I just replaced my box, and rather than take the risk of it slipping out of my hand and onto my head while installing it from under the car, I loosely tied a rope to it and had someone 'topside' help haul it into position while I maneuvered it into place and got the bolts in...

David