Disconnecting everything from Transmission

[Stallion]

I'm going to drop the transmission, and I need to disconnect everything in order to get her out of there. I have a couple of questions about it, though. Right above the three shift linkages that go into the transmission, there is an electrical connector (see attached picture) and I don't know what exactly that is. Any ideas? Do I need to disconnect it? How?

Also, the speedometer cable, does that go into the "rear" of the transmission? Right above the rear mount? Well, I unscrewed the cap of where it goes into the transmission and I saw the cable, but it seems that the speedo cable goes straight into the transmission. How am I supposed to disconnect that??

Last question, where the shifter is mounted, I was told that I needed to get that out of there, as said by this picture:

But I was just under the Vette, and it looks like this shifter lever mount is totally independent of the transmission. Do I really need to remove this?

Please help me as soon as possible because tonight I would like to get everything disconnected from the transmission so I'll be able to drop it in the next day or two.

Thanks!

Stallion

 

[Stallion]

Help please!!!

 

[brusso]

That electrical connection is probably for the back up lights?

 

[Stallion]

Ah I see, do I need to disconnect it? I don't see how to.

And what about the shifter lever mount. Do I need to take that off? And what about the speedo cable?

Thanks!

 

[Red69]

Stallion, Unscrew the speedo cable from the transmission and move it aside. You don't need to undo the shift linkage to pull the trans, just remove the stick so it will allow you to pull the trans back. I can't help you if you are using the stock shifter, but the HURST stick comes off with two bolts. If you can't just remove the stick from the shifter, you will need to remove the shifter from the trans. To do this: drop the 3 linkage bars and remove the bolts that hold the mounting plate to the trans. Drop the shifter assembly down as you guide the stick down and out of the boot and it is out. The wire you show looks like it is for back-up lights and comes on when in reverse. Where a wire needs to be disconnected there will be a black colored wire connector, just unplug it. It ain't brain surgery, so the only thing you might hurt is yourself, so be careful and for Gods sake be sure the thing is on stable jack stands. Careless people get killed working on cars. As you remove bolts take the time to put them in a plastic sandwich bag with a note where they came from. Don't think this is for amateurs, any professional restorer will have things marked better than you. After the job is over you will wonder why you made it so hard. Take your greasy trans and bell housing to the car wash with some degreaser and clean them off.

 

[Stallion]

remove the bolts that hold the mounting plate to the trans.
What will this do? Do you mean the rear mount? If so, what do the transmission's rear mount bolts have to do with the shifter?

I'll have to search for that connector, I didn't see it right away, but I wasn't looking for it.

Unscrew the speedo cable from the transmission and move it aside
But I unscrewed it, it seems like cable is strung all the way into the transmission. What I unscrewed just revealed the cable, didn't allow me to detach it I don't think. Any ideas?

 

[mfendley]

Your speedometer cable is undone. You just have to pull the cable straight out so that the inner cable piece (the part that spins) comes out of the plastic gear that remains in the transmission.

The connector for the backup lights is further up the firewall, close to the brake booster. On my '77, the wires are pink and green.

The poster above is referring to the support bracket in the picture. The reason the bracket and shifter have to come out is to make enough room for the transmission to slide back to allow the front input shaft to clear the bell housing.

 

[Stallion]

So I just pull the speedometer cable out? But how will I get it back in!?

So then I do need to remove the bracket along with the shifter (those 2 bolts). It's a hard place to get a wrench in.

 

[Red69]

Stallion, you need to pull the trans back to get the input shaft clear of the clutch disk. If you don't remove the shifter stick you can't do that. It will prevent moving the trans back. If you can't unbolt the stick and remove it alone, you will need to remove the entire shifter assembly. It attaches to the side of the trans. Yes, you will also need to unbolt it from the trans mount.

After unscrewing the speedo cable you will need to pull the cable out of the hole. It engages the speedo gear which might come out when you pull the cable out. It is a white plastic looking part. OK if it comes out, you just put it back in and set the cable aside.

You need to get the shifter stick or whole assembly out to move the trans back and out of the car.

By the way, you will need to support the engine at the rear. The trans gives support to the rear of the engine. Once it is seperated, the rear suport is lost. I hope this helps as I need to log off.

 

[Stallion]

But when I need to put the speedo cable back in, how does that work? Just shove it back in the hole?

 

[Red69]

Stallion, yes, you just put it back in the hole and turn down the nut. The nut keeps it in place and engaged to the speedo gear.

 

[buckethead]

Stallion , if you have access to a digital camera I would suggest taking some pics of the assemblies before you take them a part. I have found that a good pic really helps when putting things back together. Just my 02

 

[JohnZ]

Remove both the shifter (2 bolts attach it to the support bracket), and its support bracket that's attached to the crossmember - it needs to be out of the way to provide clearance to slide the tranny rearward. The black rubber connector on the backup light switch should just pull straight off the end of the switch. The speedo cable will just pull out of the plastic gear in the adapter after you unscrew the threaded collar - put it aside out of the way, and reverse the procedure when you re-install it later.