What are you guys using for a transmission jack?

I'm swapping out the stock 3spd for a 3spd/OD in my 60 Belair. I got the tiny stock 3spd out without much h***le. However, the OD trans is bigger and heavier than the stock one. I'm working on the floor with the car high up on jackstands. I think it may be in my best interest to use a trans jack when I install the OD. They make adapters for floor jacks also,Harbor Freight sells a scissor type one for under $100.
What are you using?
Thanks,
Todd

 

Motorcycle jack. It's perfect.

 

I do a lot of side work on bikes so it gets used quite a bit. I've also used it a few times for dropping gas tanks for fuel pump replacements.

 

Good 'ol American iron....

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I used an idea that a fellow HAMB'r gave me. Fabricated a bracket that mounted to an old floor jack and bolted to the rear mounting holes on the transmission. I did this before removing the trans so everything lined up when replacing it. Not universal but worked great.

 

Just a small floor jack and some 4x4's,,but I'm getting to old to fight with doing it the dumb way! HRP

 

6 ratchet straps along the frame and a floor jack.....Its a long story... Wish I had pictures...

 

I'm with **** 100%. I've used my MC jack several times when installing OD transmissions.

 

Me too.

 

gas tanks, ******s, bikes, mowers, atv's. i use mine a lot.

 

the harbor freight thing ****s----figure something out with your floor jack and bellhousing studs

 

first step remove body from frame .. easier when you can do it standing up. sorry i still do it the caveman way. all muscle.

 

I do have a M/C jack. I just totally spaced the idea of using it. I think a few pieces of wood a cribbing to get the trans level and it will work perfect.
Thanks guys!! Todd

 

Floor jack with a piece of plywood on it.

 

Now this gets posted. I struggled with my T5 conversion with a floor jack while I kept stepping over my M/C jack.

 

I'll speak for the m***es here in H.A.M.B.land............ X 1000

 

I have used my HF trans jack several times and it works fine. Better than my floor jack and plywood did. No it is not as good as a real one, but it works fine for me. Sure wasn't $100 when I bought it.

 

Me too, that's the way I do it. It's nice to have a friend around to call 911 too when it falls off.

 

Have used my HF jack for five year's now with never a problem.

 

I use my floor jack no adapters now that I am older. The missus and I have horsed a few tranmissions up by hand in our day. But now we are older and wiser.

 

Haha! Sorry!

 

sears floor jack and my son-in-law

 

Gotta agree about the motorcycle jack. I purchased that cool all-aluminum Craftsman jack from Sears and quickly learned that it wouldn't work on either of my motorcycles. The drag bike had pipes that run under the frame and my chop-chop just sat way to low. It's now been used several several times successfully as a transmission jack.

 

Ah the memory of sliding underneath the car, placing your body just right and then rolling the 4 speed onto your chest, hoping with one lift and push it will actually make it past the throw out bearing and clutch plates the first time. Now I use the M/C jack.

 

I used to lay on the floor and pull the transmission (nothing bigger that a 4-speed) up onto my chest and stomach and then hoist the transmission in from there. Then probably 15 years ago, I picked up one of those transmission adapters for a floor jack; which worked okay for a few years. About 7 years ago, picked up one of the HF transmission jacks; which does automatic and anything bigger.

 

I have three floor jacks, so I took the old one and made a base that I welded to the swivel cup on it. I made slots to run a nylon strap through the base to strap a ****** to it, and it works great. Would be nicer if all 4 wheels swiveled, but trans are light enough I can shift it sideways a little when I need to.

 

I have a HF trans jack and one that mounts to a floor jack. Both work fine but my only complaint is with the floor jack one. It's very tall and sometimes unable to fit under a car with a large or low hanging frame, up on jack stands, with a trans on it. This is with a larger trans, say a TH350. I've had to lower the trans down then pull the trans. off the jack under the car, then slide it out. Do the reverse to get it in. This is why I bought an actual trans jack instead. I could see a motorcycle jack working real well though. Especially if you have one!

 

Wow, This thread brings back some memories, in the late 70's ,when I was much younger, I had to replace the clutch in a Vega hatchback. I had no problem getting it
jacked up and on stands. Removing the trans went ok along with the clutch replacement.
The real challenge came when I had to lift the 4 speed gear box and slide it back into place, I managed to get the trans onto my chest but when I lifted it I heard and felt a
rib snap. It took a lot longer to heal than the repair took to complete. That was the last
time I tried that trick. I've changed a lot of transmissions since,but used a trans jack and had help.

................Jack

 

My chest

 

I usually use #3 son, the weightlifter.