I fought the car, and the car won

bionicarm

bionicarm

Active Member
I just spent the last 6 hours trying to pull the transmission out of an old Mazda pickup I have that has a burned clutch. It's come down to ONE BOLT. There's one stinking bolt at the top of the bell housing I can't get out. It's in a position where you literally can't see it to put a wrench or socket on it. I have to lie on my back underneath the car, and blindly stab a socket on it. Once I have it on, then I have to try and get the rachet on the socket (almost impossible to put the socket on the bolt head while the ratchet is attached). I've tried for the last 2 HOURS to get this bolt out, and it now appears I may have stripped the head (Can't really see to tell). So much for trying to save $600.
 
yearofthenick

yearofthenick

Active Member
I was in the EXACT SAME position a few years ago with my pontiac firebird. You what I ended up doing? Selling it.
I don't mean to discourage you from getting the job done, but it was the only option for me at the time! You could always call a mechanic and hope they can do it for you... or buy the special tool that will get the bolt done. Also, throw som WD-40 on the bolt and let it sit for a while.
 
ibanez

ibanez

Member
You should try changing the spark plugs on a 98 gmc jimmy. I was 5 minutes away from burning the vehicle and urinating on the ashes. And that is putting it mildly.
 
bionicarm

bionicarm

Active Member
Originally Posted by YearOfTheNick
http:///forum/post/3274427
I was in the EXACT SAME position a few years ago with my pontiac firebird. You what I ended up doing? Selling it.
I don't mean to discourage you from getting the job done, but it was the only option for me at the time! You could always call a mechanic and hope they can do it for you... or buy the special tool that will get the bolt done. Also, throw som WD-40 on the bolt and let it sit for a while.
Trust me, selling it is clearly on my mind. When it was running, my wife wouldn't even drive it because she was afraid she'd get pulled over just because of its looks. That's also why I haven't bought any of the parts to fix it yet. The only cost I've incurred so far is time. I've actually enjoyed the disassembly up until this one bolt. I haven't pulled a tranny in almost 35 years. I'm going to take another crack at it tomorrow. Gonna head over to Sears and get me a new ratchet. The one I have does keep sticking. I don't think there'sd any special tool that could be used. I have a feeling when Mazda assembled the truck, they attached the tranny to the engine before dropping it in. It's amazing how arrogant automobile manufacturers are when it comes to their cars. They think that they'll never break, so they put nuts and bolts in places knowing you can't get to them unless you take it to a professional.
 
fishtaco

fishtaco

Active Member
I may have been known to cut a small hole with a cutting torch in the floor pan or fenderwell to get at a bolt a time or two. Just saying.
Fishtaco
 
scottnlisa

scottnlisa

Member
My former father in law only said a few things while I was married to his son that always rang true to me and one of them was if you have an old car you have troubles lol! Sorry to hear about the frustration over one bolt if it were me I'd throw my hands up and sell it also... Hope your holiday weekend gets better even though there is only one day left.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
Originally Posted by bionicarm
http:///forum/post/3274400
I just spent the last 6 hours trying to pull the transmission out of an old Mazda pickup I have that has a burned clutch. It's come down to ONE BOLT. There's one stinking bolt at the top of the bell housing I can't get out. It's in a position where you literally can't see it to put a wrench or socket on it. I have to lie on my back underneath the car, and blindly stab a socket on it. Once I have it on, then I have to try and get the rachet on the socket (almost impossible to put the socket on the bolt head while the ratchet is attached). I've tried for the last 2 HOURS to get this bolt out, and it now appears I may have stripped the head (Can't really see to tell). So much for trying to save $600.
If it's a stick you might be able to get to the bolt through the shifter boot. Another option, depending on what kind of tools you have is to remove the tranny mount (with the other bolts placed back on the bell housing) and lower the rear of the transmission with a floor jack so you can get to the top bolt. The engine and transmission will just tilt down which should expose the top bolt. I've spent a few hours in a driveway with a transmission sitting on my chest trying to get the splines on the input shat to line back up. I feel for ya.
 
bionicarm

bionicarm

Active Member
Originally Posted by reefraff
http:///forum/post/3274526
If it's a stick you might be able to get to the bolt through the shifter boot. Another option, depending on what kind of tools you have is to remove the tranny mount (with the other bolts placed back on the bell housing) and lower the rear of the transmission with a floor jack so you can get to the top bolt. The engine and transmission will just tilt down which should expose the top bolt. I've spent a few hours in a driveway with a transmission sitting on my chest trying to get the splines on the input shat to line back up. I feel for ya.
Thanks reef. From what I can tell, this is literally the last bolt holding the tranny to the engine. It's the upper-left bolt around the bell housing. I can see it from the top looking down, but there's not enough space that direction to get a ratchet on it.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
Originally Posted by bionicarm
http:///forum/post/3274540
Thanks reef. From what I can tell, this is literally the last bolt holding the tranny to the engine. It's the upper-left bolt around the bell housing. I can see it from the top looking down, but there's not enough space that direction to get a ratchet on it.
A dremmel with a cut off wheel might be your next option if you can lower the trans enough to get to the bolt. Just cut yourself a couple of wide flats you can put a wrench on and have at it. Hand grinder can do the same thing if you have room to work.
Another idea is using heat. Dowse the whole undercarrage with gas and light it up, grab a 6 pack and a bag of hot dogs and have a good memorial day
 
robertmathern

robertmathern

Active Member
Dudebhave you tried laying on top of the engine running your hand down the firewall. and there should be 2 at the top of the bell housing. You will need an open end wrench to get them. Unless you get lucky. I have done that job many many times before. Every so offten you just got to walk away have a drink come back. There a pain but hang in there you will get it. Good luck and I am glad I am not in you shoes. I was 2 weeks ago though lol
 
bionicarm

bionicarm

Active Member
Originally Posted by reefraff
http:///forum/post/3274597
A dremmel with a cut off wheel might be your next option if you can lower the trans enough to get to the bolt. Just cut yourself a couple of wide flats you can put a wrench on and have at it. Hand grinder can do the same thing if you have room to work.
Another idea is using heat. Dowse the whole undercarrage with gas and light it up, grab a 6 pack and a bag of hot dogs and have a good memorial day

Now you're talkin'. Wonder if it would burn long enough to smoke a brisket?

I have the tranny totally disconnected from the truck. It doesn't drop down at all. There's absolutely no space or area to get a special tool on the bolt. I was able to contort my body enough with a flashlight to see I've rounded out the head of the bolt.
I'm now resorting to redneck logic to try and get the bolt out. I took a 14mm socket and filled the end with JB Weld, and pressed the socket onto the head of the bolt. I'm going to let it sit overnight, then see if I can get it off that way. If that doesn't work, I may go with Fishtaco's suggestion and cut a hole in the floor board and at least have access where I can use either a cutoff tool, or torch to cut the head of the bolt off.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
I know you don't want to hear this but I would replace the bolts on either side of that one and torque them in so they carry the load instead of the one you redneck engineered. The less stress on that one the easier it will be to get out.
 
bionicarm

bionicarm

Active Member
Originally Posted by reefraff
http:///forum/post/3274645
I know you don't want to hear this but I would replace the bolts on either side of that one and torque them in so they carry the load instead of the one you redneck engineered. The less stress on that one the easier it will be to get out.
Yea, I thought about that. Those are easily accessible, and it won't take long to drop a couple back in.
 
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