Craig,
How about getting a second floor jack.  You will probably find a whole bunch
of good stuff you can do with a second one.  I've appreciated having two
many times, including situations like this.  It's also easy to get a decent
one locally like from Sears or maybe places like Costco.
Alternatively, perhaps you have a friend who would lend you theirs for a
short time.  If you can borrow the friend to work it, the job might go
pretty easily.
-Hans

----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Oda" <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2004 12:49 AM
Subject: Auto Trans Install - Take Out Engine?

> For the last week I've been trying to fit my 150 pound automatic
> transmission back into my van.  I'm getting closer.  However, I still
> can't align the two studs on the engine bell housing with the holes on
> bottom of the transmission.   :-(
>
> tonight's problem was that the transmission was tilted a bit on the
> plywood board I'm using as a platform, resulting in the holes not
> being level with each other.  One hole was about a half inch higher
> than the other.  I'm going to try and brace the trans on the plywood
> with some additional wood, but I'm starting to think of what my other
> options are.
>
> I'm considering taking the engine out.  I took the engine out a year
> ago and I was able to get it back in the van somehow.   Does anyone
> think this approach would be easier?  About 2 years ago, my
> transmission burned out on a dirt road by a nice lake and I was forced
> to have a local mechanic throw in a rebuilt tranny for me.  I know
> that he took out the engine in order to replace the trans.   At the
> time, I thought it was because he didn't know that the tranny could be
> taken out by itself.  But, now I think that maybe he did know.  The
> mechanic's personal vehicle was a vanagon.  Amazing coincidence in a
> town that size.
>
> Well, this is option number one.  it is not so appealing because I
> don't want to drain the coolant from the cylinder heads and disconnect
> all those coolant hoses.   Right now, I've got the tranny cooler hoses
> clamped up, but I'll soon run out of hose clamps and won't have enough
> to clamp all the hoses if I drop the engine.   If I go this route,
> should I reconnect the tranny and the engine while it is out of the
> van and drop in the engine/tranny system as a single unit, or should I
> install the tranny carrier bolts, then bolt the engine onto that?  I'm
> thinking that it might be easier to assemble the tranny and engine out
> of the van and then drop in the entire unit.  (I have no experience
> with this).
>
> Option two is to buy a tranny jack adapter from Harbor Freight.   I'm
> probably going to order this anyway for future use.  Maybe it can be
> used as a platform to take out the engine??  If anyone has one of
> these, let me know how useful it is. .
>
> However, I'm not sure if it will get here in time to be useful.   I'm
> also not sure if it will help with the range of adjustments that I
> need for the job.
>
> I'm currently using a platform made out of plywood that consists of a
> base plate that bolts onto the jack base hole and allows free movement
> side to side.   The plywood base plate holds a piece of plumbing pipe
> that serves as a roller to allow free movement of the trans front to
> back.      A second piece of plywood attaches to the plumbing pipe
> roller with metal holders that function as bearings.   The top piece
> of plywood has holes in it for chains to secure the tranny and prevent
> slipping.  With this setup, I can easily move the tranny into position
> below the van and jack it up the proper height.  I'm running into
> problems aligning the bolts because I can't roll and hold the trans in
> place.  I am also have no means to lock the front and back position
> into place.  Though, I may try to modify some C-Clamps for this.
>
> I'm going to try again tomorrow.  However, I am hoping to collect some
> advice on the idea of taking out the engine and connecting the engine
> and trans together outside of the van.
>
> Thanks.
>