Am I ready to instal the gearbox together with the TT and bell housing back into the car? I think I am! I am planning to use a small lift that is often used for motorcycles, but also for lifting a VW engine, or perhaps the 911 engine & gearbox (don't know, but seems logical).
So I don't intend to hang the gearbox with a chain on the rear stabiliser as seen in the WSM Vol.2 page 34-6 but want to lift gearbox with TT and bell housing mounted on the suvframe all in one go! So I want to fix it to the chassis while it's lifted up. Front first. What are my chances?

 

That should work. One issue is re-adjusting the slotted bolt holes. The rear cradle needs to move a bit and the tranny mounts, too. Hanging the tranny allows the cradle to be positioned and then the tranny mounts to be secured.

I haven't seen a procedure on adjusting the cradle to get the thrust angle right. I just put them back where they were.

No reason it can't be done like you've got it. I think that's like how they did it at the factory except there they had the engine and suspension together and mated that to the body.

 

Exactly, the cradle can move freely because the weight of the gearbox is carried by the wooden log so I can wiggle it to adjust. Main thing is: I don't have to be under the car. I can do it all from the side until the weight is carried by the cradle/sub-frame

 

Looks like it should work... I had the entire rear suspension assembled and installed it after getting the transmission attached to the TT. Yeah, I used the chain method and a transmission jack... It wasn't bad, but I had the car up on 12 ton jack stands and lift bars... Plenty of room for maneuvering but not so high that I worried about things falling on me.

 

Well, I finally got around just doing it. Gearbox and TT are in, by described method mentioned earlier. It was really easy actually. The hard part was to line up the holes of the subframe, which are generous in size, and lifting the front with the small hydraulic jack. Securing it with wooden blocks under the TT before relocating the jack to get it up higher. And with the engine out, the front of the TT and bell housing is easy to reach from the engine compartment.
Next steps? I guess the rear suspension and drive axles before fitting the gastank.

 

Wow, goed bezig Ad!