1988 Buick Park Avenue Removing Transmission

Tiny
TEDMONSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 BUICK PARK AVENUE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
My son has a 1988 Buick Park Avenue 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic Transmission and it stopped changing gears, since I have in my years changed many transmissions I agreed to help, after reading about this car and removing all the necessary parts and unbolting the transmission, I am not able to get enough clearance to remove the transmission, it is clearing the engine around 2 inches; but it will not move far enough to drop? What did I miss?
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 AT 3:58 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Hi
Have you unbolted right and left craddles and torque convertor bolts? Is trans hitting frame? Sometimes it is necessary to remove left motor mount
Let me know
Thanks for donate
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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 AT 11:08 AM
Tiny
TEDMONSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Tedmonson- I have unbolted right and left craddles and torque convertor bolts as well, the trans is hitting the frame at this point. I have also unbolted all the motor mounts and I am able to rise the engine off the frame but, I still do not have enough room to drop the transmission

I can send pictures or video upon request.

Thanks
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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 AT 12:06 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Completly remove left motor mount this will give room to clear frame. Also may need to rotate trans to get clear.
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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 AT 12:16 PM
Tiny
TEDMONSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Tedmonson - the only motor mount that has not been remove is the right front all the mounts that hold the trans has been removed.
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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 AT 1:02 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Have you tried to raise front of engine up? Can you rotate to clear frame. Are you using a trans jack?
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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 AT 1:29 PM
Tiny
TEDMONSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Tedmonson - I did raise the front of the engine only about 1-2 inches and was not able to clear the frame, I didn't want to raise it too much because of the manifold. I am not using a trans jack but I am able raise the front and rear of the trans independantly.

The solution my be to continue to raise the engine, until it completely clears the motor mounts, then push the engine toward the right side to create a clearance for the transmission. Not sure how much stress the manifold will take in this case.
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Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 AT 2:56 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Raising engine off mounts is what Mitchell suggests
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Thursday, June 18th, 2009 AT 9:43 AM

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