xtremerevolution Posted January 19, 2010 Report Share Posted January 19, 2010 So I'll need to drop my subframe in the near future to take the side cover off of my transmission to fix the parking pinion/pawl/rod. Do any of you have any tips on doing this? Any specific places I could support the engine and transmission during the process? A number of jacks and jackstands I'll need to do the job? Should I disconnect the balljoints, or the control arm bolts? How much does that subframe weigh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted January 19, 2010 Report Share Posted January 19, 2010 You need to support the engine and tranny from the top. There is a "hoist" made to do this. Or you can make your own. Use two jack stands to support the front end of the car. Just unbolt the ball joints at the knuckle. Why make more work for yourself? Subframe has some weight to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 remove the steering rack bolts and let the rack hang in the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted January 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 You need to support the engine and tranny from the top. There is a "hoist" made to do this. Or you can make your own. Use two jack stands to support the front end of the car. Just unbolt the ball joints at the knuckle. Why make more work for yourself? Subframe has some weight to it. Can I place a 4x4 on top of the engine bay and strap the engine to it with some truck straps? I figured it would be easier to disconnect the control arms from the subframe and let them hang than to disconnect the balljoints. I might have to use my balljoint removal tool, which might damage the balljoints in the process as I'd be hammering that cheese wedge fork in there. The bolts in there are only a year old so they should come out pretty easily. How much is "some weight?" Meaning, I can bench press it if necessary, or I'll need someone to help me drop it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrett Powered Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 remove the steering rack bolts and let the rack hang in the car. also undo the stainless lines from the cradle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 You need to support the engine and tranny from the top. There is a "hoist" made to do this. Or you can make your own. Use two jack stands to support the front end of the car. Just unbolt the ball joints at the knuckle. Why make more work for yourself? Subframe has some weight to it. Can I place a 4x4 on top of the engine bay and strap the engine to it with some truck straps? I figured it would be easier to disconnect the control arms from the subframe and let them hang than to disconnect the balljoints. I might have to use my balljoint removal tool, which might damage the balljoints in the process as I'd be hammering that cheese wedge fork in there. The bolts in there are only a year old so they should come out pretty easily. How much is "some weight?" Meaning, I can bench press it if necessary, or I'll need someone to help me drop it... How much can you bench press? if around 200lbs then your good. If your control arm bolts are that easy to get out, then by all means you can do that. And for the 4x4, it might crush your fenders a little bit, but if secured, the engine/trans wont go anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 What I have always done is I disconnect the one bolt from the steering shaft to the steering rack and take the three bolts off the strut and let the strut come down with the cradle... But then again, I have always had a lift to use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted January 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 You need to support the engine and tranny from the top. There is a "hoist" made to do this. Or you can make your own. Use two jack stands to support the front end of the car. Just unbolt the ball joints at the knuckle. Why make more work for yourself? Subframe has some weight to it. Can I place a 4x4 on top of the engine bay and strap the engine to it with some truck straps? I figured it would be easier to disconnect the control arms from the subframe and let them hang than to disconnect the balljoints. I might have to use my balljoint removal tool, which might damage the balljoints in the process as I'd be hammering that cheese wedge fork in there. The bolts in there are only a year old so they should come out pretty easily. How much is "some weight?" Meaning, I can bench press it if necessary, or I'll need someone to help me drop it... How much can you bench press? if around 200lbs then your good. If your control arm bolts are that easy to get out, then by all means you can do that. And for the 4x4, it might crush your fenders a little bit, but if secured, the engine/trans wont go anywhere. 200 is a bit pushing it when you're under a car. As for the 4x4, I'll think about it. I might find a way to secure it better. I managed to lift up half of my entire engine in my Jaguar using the fender and a truck strap, but that's a Jaguar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted January 20, 2010 Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 Curious... Do you use your parking brake? What was the cause of your issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted January 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 A Guy on the Bonneville forum said its a common issue. The spring loaded part of the end of the parking pinion pops off and your car gets locked in park in all gears. Apparently its a simple fix once you have the side cover off. Just need to replace that rod. They said it had nothing to do with whether or not you use your parking brake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted January 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2010 Here's the thread regarding the problem I'm fixing. http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php?topic=83819.45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99screaminregal Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Have you done this yet? I had to do the same to get my oil pan out. What you need to do to suspend the engine is take 2 wood blocks (2x4 pieces) and set them in your hood channel then set the 4x4 on them that raises the 4x4 over the body so it doesn't crush it. I took a few peices of chain and a couple gr 8 bolts nuts and washers to tie them together through the hoist brackets. Disconnect your lines from the frame Took 2 jacks and put them on both sides of the frame. Unbolted the motor/ tranny mounts. Unbolted rack bolts then frame bolts (completly). Left balljoints together so I didn't have to bench press the sub frame. Dropped the jacks a little at a time each. The cradle will come slowly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted February 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Have you done this yet? I had to do the same to get my oil pan out. What you need to do to suspend the engine is take 2 wood blocks (2x4 pieces) and set them in your hood channel then set the 4x4 on them that raises the 4x4 over the body so it doesn't crush it. I took a few peices of chain and a couple gr 8 bolts nuts and washers to tie them together through the hoist brackets. Disconnect your lines from the frame Took 2 jacks and put them on both sides of the frame. Unbolted the motor/ tranny mounts. Unbolted rack bolts then frame bolts (completly). Left balljoints together so I didn't have to bench press the sub frame. Dropped the jacks a little at a time each. The cradle will come slowly. Sounds like an easy way to go. Thank you so much for posting this. Coincidentally, I also have to replace my oil pan gasket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99screaminregal Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Anytime, that's what we're all here for right? Hopefully it won't take you 2 wks to do like it did me. That's what I get for not asking about the tear down and going off of the wonderful Haines manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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