Projects Changing '54 Chevy Trans

I'm getting ready to change out the 3 speed (closed drive) in my dad's '54 Chevy (it has a 235 six). I never worked on a closed drive before and was wondering if there were any tips/tricks to make the job a little easier, or any things I should watch out for.

Thanks, Bob

 

Anyone?

 

Is this a car or truck..I know on a truck you take the rear axle loose and slide it back as well as drop the trans crossmember...other than sliding the rear axle and torque tube back it is straightforward..

 

I've never removed one from a complete car, but in the book it shows it coming up through the big hole in the floor. that's all I got to offer.



car or truck??? trans crossmember does not move in a car

 

You putting another later open drive line rear end in?

 

well the 54 doesn't have the access door on the floor or a removable crossmember unfortunately.

I have never removed the ****** before without the engine but am interested in the responses as i'll be having to swap the clutch on mine soon. Cesar

 

well the 54 doesn't have the access door on the floor or a removable crossmember unfortunately.

hmmm... I parted out a 53 and didn't notice no hole in the floor. I was going by the 1949 manual.


"rotate as needed and remove from under the car".... that's what they say in the 53 supplement.

 

On my 54 there is about a 6 X4 access door, mine was a powerglide car so I'm sure there is a difference. I unbolted the access plate that connected the closed drive to the ****** and slid it back, removed three or four bolts that held the closed drive to the ******, unbolted the ******, 3 bolts off the torque converter and the two bolts that held the ****** to the crossmember. The powerglide was a ***** to get out to say the least, hopefully your 3 spd will be a hell of a lot easier

 

I took mine out of my '51. it was no problem. I can give you lots of tips if the '53 is similar. If there is no access hole in the floor it must be totally different.

 

Really? The whole transmission hump was removeable in my '53; I changed the 3 speed from the interior.

 

I forgot I had this link, about everything you need to know
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1949_53/index.htm

 

53-54 (maybe even 52) have a crossmember that unbolts. you have to deal with about 175 3/8 fine nut & bolts that have 50 years of corrosion, but it unbolts. My 53 had a big access hole, both for the trans, and a smaller one up by the firewall to get to the top bellhousing bolts.

 

Thanks for the replies. It's a car.

I spoke to an old timer the other day and he said to unbolt the torque tube from the trans, slide it back as far as possible, unbolt the universal, then unbolt the trans from the motor (I don't remember him mentioning the cross member but I'll figure it out when I get under there) incl. linkage, etc. and it should easily come out of the bottom. We'll see. It's a very light trans which is good because I'll be laying on my back doing it.