dlr944

I am re-installing the trans after a clutch job but I am having difficulty algining the transmission coupling collar to the drive shaft (torque tube). I tried getting the trans into position and then sliding the collar but that didn't work.

Next, I bolted the trans to the torque tube and then tried to slide the collar but that failed as well. Everything look's algined but it won't slide over the collar??

Any tricks or suggestion would be helpful for my mental health!

Thanks

PaulStewart

You do have the pinch bolt out, right?

dlr944

Yes, the pinch bolts are out.

Dmitry S.

Use a big screwdriver to muscle it in there. Takes a little while, but it will go on. Don't be afraid, it's made to hold 350+hp, your arm won't do it any harm.

Dave951M

It helps to put a light coat of grease on the splines of both the driveshaft and the input shaft. It also helps to leave the bolts on the tranny to the t tube to be about 1/2 turn off of the seats, in other words, run the bolts down with your fingers until they stop, then back off about a half turn. That leaves you a bit of "wiggle" to help while moving the coupler. If you leave the tranny bolts loose and then slide the coupler on, remember to tighten them FIRST, before putting in the pinch bolts.

dlr944

Just afraid that if I force the collar on, I may never be able to get it to come off again. When I removed it the first time, it just slid right off.

Do most people just muscle it on???

KuHL 951

Have you tried putting the car in gear and have some one very slowly rotate the drive wheel as you try to fit the collar onto the TT shaft. Any chance one of the splined shafts could have got bent during the removal of the trans? Was the coupling slid completely free when the trans dropped? With the trans bolted up I can't see how they wouldn't line up unless a shaft was tweaked somehow. Mine was a snap.

IceShark

I'm about 3 days behind you on this. The stuff I have read said to mark positions - vague on what particular positions to mark. However, that couple is fairly easy to position along the shaft in the original position so "position" marking must be the splines. In other words those splines must not be identical in position. If you didn't mark them you may have to turn the shaft through each one of them and try and fit.

Let me know how that works, though I did mark the splines on my shafts.

dlr944

Thanks everyone... I got the coupler to finally slide on. Essentially, I bolted up the transmission and then used two hands to force the coupler over the output shaft. It doesn't exactly slide over but it will move with a little force.

IceShark... let me know if you have any questions because it can be a little tricky.

Thanks!!

Legoland951

Dave951M's advice is a good one. I have done many a trans swaps and leaving room to wiggle the transmission is the best way. Wire brush the splines before reinstall and make sure the collar is not rusted. Apply anti seize before reinstallation on the collar and screws

Stan944

The funny thing is that right before doing it I was unsure how to mount the coupler, i.e how far from the transmission (as it slides along the shafts). It turns out that the pinch bolts will fit only in one location of the coupler with respect to the drive shaft and the tranny input shaft. But, everybody who did it once, knows that, :-)