"stabbing the tranny"

[bling5tatus]

Ok, so I am not an expert, but I have removed my motor and it has been a major learning experience. I am now at the point of piecing everything back together. Last night I tried to put my transmission on the block... I did not have a clutch alignment tool but was told you can get it to work anyway if you just center the disc as much as you can. So... here's the question, those small hollow "pegs" on both sides of the transmission, those need to go into their respective spots on the block and a bolt needs to go through them... would the disc not being perfectly centered keep those from lining up. I mean the input shaft went in the disc, but I could not get those pegs (for lack of better term) to go in the block, even though they looked like they were lined up properly. Is there any kind of cheater trick to line up the clutch without an alignment tool? Also, I noticed that the bottom half of the bellhousing on the transmission is open and exposed when it is bolted to the motor. Is this right? Or is there something supposed to be covering that? If anyone can post a picture of what it should look like from underneath I'd greatly appreciate it. Also if there's any advice for getting the transmission on I'd enjoy that as well.

My friend does have a clutch tool, but he won't be back until this friday and I don't want to wait (I will if I have to).

 

[Cs4g63]

Its best to use an alignment tool to make sure it is properly aligned. But besides that you can use the bolts for bolting the trans to the engine to pull the two of them together. And for the opening you are talking about there is a cover that goes there and covers that opening. It basically looks like piece of sheetmetal.

 

[bling5tatus]

I have that sheetmetal thing, but it doesn't seem to go down that far it stops at the bottom of the block... also, I was thinking I could use the bolts to pull the two together, but I was afraid of cracking the aluminum bellhousing. Any advice is welcome. I appreciate your help so far. I would still like a picture if someone could provide one.

 

[Rippinstock]

I would say stick with wht your doing as far as getting in bolts and slowly tightening. Me and my friend have done both of ours with no alignment tool. Just get it as close as you can get a bolt or two and try and jiggle that puppy home, carefully as possible. Unless you're wailing on it the bll housing should be fine.

 

[bling5tatus]

Thank you, I'll take another stab at it tonight... haha. Still though I do not understand where the metal plate should be covering the bottom half of the bellhousing.... as it sits now, it's open and I'm thinking I don't have that part that covers the open part of the bell housing when it's bolted up. If it is worth anything, my other block that came out has the same "sheet metal" plate in bolted on to the transmission side and doesn't look any different than the one that's on the motor that's going in the car.

 

[silver eclipse]

The piece of sheet metal he is reffering to is a seperate piece that bolts under the block and to the trans. Your piece is the spacer between block and trans.
Loosen the pressure plate and center the disk as much by eye as you can, Then tighten up the pressure, Try the tans again.
-Chad

 

[bling5tatus]

I see I see... I think all my questions have been answered and I will be going to the junkyard to get this extra part that bolts on to the transmission this weekend. I appreciate everyone's fast and accurate help.

 

[bling5tatus]

Well I've got a useful tip for anyone in the same predicament as me... you can use a 14mm deep socket to align the clutch disc if you do not have an alignment tool... the dowel pins not going into their respective holes easily is a result of my disc not being aligned perfectly. I hope this helps anyone out that is trying to southern engineer a motor.