I just don't want to overlook anything. I'm gonna order a conOFE pretty soon and do the job in the garage. Wondering if I should pull the trans. w/ the transfer case or separate. I am gonna try to borrow a trans. jack from work or rent one. I'm mainly referring to specialty tools, 12 point metric sockets, etc... I guess I'll do the rear main while I'm in there. I guess I need to start looking into finding a place to have the flywheel turned, too.

Thanks,
-Ryan

 

bump...................

 

two words...frame spreader.

 

2nd the frame spreader. leave the trans and transfer together and get a trans. jack will help anlong with another regular jack for the front of the motor. the tools are nothing special that i remember. just take your time and follow the instructions its pretty straight forward.
Andrew

 

One thing that makes the job alt easier is a motorcycle jack to support the tranny and TC. That is if it's available. If not a jack and another set of hands will do it. As for a frame spreader a porta power would be the ideal thing to use. The hillbilly way...and my way, is a 4x4 with a 2 inch hole drilled into the end and a bottle jack. Take a bottle jack, stick the end in the 4x4 and place between the rails and start spreading. Works good but don't forget the hole...i have a nice scar from the time i decided it wasn't necessary.

 

Why'd they change it so u have to spread the frame to get the crossmember out? The seems kinds of pointless, on the older years you just lift it up and back and it's out.

As long as you have a good set of sockets, it'll go smooth. I didn't have a 18mm socket when I got to the flywheel so that was a bummer having to go get one in the middle of the job. A helper would have made it so much easier (I swore alot when I did the swap myself), along with a very adjustable trans jack. Just make sure u tighten the pressure plate slowly in a cross pattern so it doesn't get distorted.