Iam having some issues with getting the engine to let go of the trannie. The engine complety disconected, but i havent been able to pull them apart. Any tips. Should i disconect the torq converter from the flex plate.

I think you may need to unbolt the flexplate from the torque converter. I'm not sure how many bolts there are, so you'll have to turn the engine over to get access to them.

 

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. That's what I had to do to get the tranny off a '90 caravan with a seized engine (not fun)

 

 

now if someone can tell me why the torque converter slid right after it was unbolted... I'd like to know

yeah, you have to unbolt the tc from the flex plate.

 

 

Once you do that, it should come off. I will say that it can be a royal pain to remove the AT.

I did it with the engine and tranny out. It was pretty easy. I only had to take all the bolts out that connected the tranny to the engine and then busted out the rubber mallet, prybar, torch, big hammer...

I did it with the engine and tranny out. It was pretty easy. I only had to take all the bolts out that connected the tranny to the engine and then busted out the rubber mallet, prybar, torch, big hammer...

 

Dunno about Subaru but just did a tranny swap on a GMC Safari van. With all bolts incl torque converter-to-flexplate out, the trans remained firmly attached to the 4.3 V6 block, even with the leverage of grabbing the tailshaft and lowering/raising trans jack. Looking at it would think with the weight of the trans, it would have to just fall off without the bolts and crossmember. Had to spray with penetrating oil and apply great force back & forth on the tailshaft to break it loose.

 

Where can I find instructions to remove/replace a 4EAT?

Thanks for the response, I am pulling the engine to do the head gaskets to try to make that easier. Ive pulled the auto before on my SVX and the was a PITA, but i dont remebr disconecting the torq converter, but i will try it.

There are two dowel pins aligning the engine and tranny. You might need to smack these with a pin punch and hammer to disturb them, corrosion can make them hold very, very tight.

just pulled the engine in my 99' OB engine came out with the torque converter on it still bolted up. just gotta wiggle it a bit and make shure you don't have any angle on the transmission shaft and it will come off..

I had to deal with a stripped bolt on the TC to flexplate. Couldn't get the bolt off so I cut the flexplate. Ugly, I know.

 

I didn't want to mess with getting the TC back into the transmission.

 

 

It was from a parts car so keeping the flexplate wasn't an issue.

I did this while the engine and transmission were still in the car.

No room for the torch, chisel, smaller socket, nothing.

Dremel is king.

 

But so ugly. So very ugly.

 

Jay