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Help! Dropping the transmission

  • Thread starter Thread starter ZOSO87
  • Start date Start date
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ZOSO87

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My dad and I were trying to drop the transmission on my '77 Corvette to change the flywheel and just can't figure it out. We got the bolts out of the block no problem, we got the cross member off, but we can't get the drive shaft out because it goes up and over the frame. We tried everything we could think of and still aren't having any luck. We even took the motor mount bolts out and pulled the motor up some with a hoist. We haven't tried it yet but surely you don't have to take the rear end out. Is there any kind of a trick to it. If this had been any other kind of car we would have already had the transmission out, the flywheel changed, and be back on the road.
 
Take the bolts out of the U-joint yokes on both the front and rear of the driveshaft, and pry the U-joints out of the yokes to free up both ends. Then you can wrestle it out from the tunnel by sliding it forward to clear the differential, and drop it down and slide it out the back.
 
The front U joint doesn''t have any bolts holding it in, it's just pressed in all the way around, or else we would have already done that. It isn't a normal driveshaft, it's made by Precision Shaft Technologies and is carbon fiber, not steel, or else I would just cut it in half and buy another one.
 
With a C2/C3 Corvette, you can't have a drive shaft with the front yoke pressed-on--otherwise, you get the problem you have now, ie...you can't remove the shaft. That's why driveshafts for 63-82 Vettes always have bolt on yokes, front and back.

My guess is the only way you're going to get that shaft out is remove the rear end.

You'd think a driveshaft maker, like PST, would know that.
 
Thanks for your input. We finally got the flywheel changed and are now back in business.:D We did end up having to drop the rear-end. Once we got it dropped it was no problem removing the driveshaft. I hope we don't have to do anything that extensive for a while. This has been the most difficult car to work on I have ever seen.
 

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