Poor Man's Transmission Jack.

[351c1971]

I built a transmission adapter for my trolley jack out of scrap wood and an old jack pad. I also sawed off the head from 2 bolts to make guide pins for the Top Loader. This made the installation of my Top Loader manual trans an easy one man operation. Sometimes purpose made tools are the best and transmission jacks were way too expensive.

 

[Hemikiller]

Totally agree, super handy tool to have. I made mine from some scraps at work.

 

[351c1971]

Hi Hemikiller,
I like the vertical angles on yours. They cradle the Top Loader. I have to use bungee chords.

 

[clevelandcoupe]

Some of us are too old to be bench pressing top loaders anymore...
I use large tie wraps to secure trans to cradle. I also made a double thick plywood template that bolted on the front flange of the trans to rest it on the exhaust H pipe so I didn't have to take it out from under the car while pulling motor.
Thanks, Jay

 

[351c1971]

I know the feeling. I am the charter member of the "Over 70 Ford Motor Swap Club"

 

[will e]

I found the harbor freight screw transmission jack works really well. The screw action doesn't move a bit like hydraulic jacks will do after pumping them.

 

[timachone]

That's how I made my own transmission jack, too. An old small car jack, a big steel plate and some angle iron, good bolts, some grinding and painting and done. With that I got a C6 out and back in of a 1970 F250 without jacking the truck up. The top loader of the Mach will be next in a few years...

 

[giantpune]

Y'all must not have grown up as poor as I did. I always used a floor jack with a 2x4 to spread the weight out across the pan.

 

[Hemikiller]

Y'all must not have grown up as poor as I did. I always used a floor jack with a 2x4 to spread the weight out across the pan.

I didn't grow up poor, but my twenties were definitely "hand to mouth".

 

[mrgmhale]

I built a transmission adapter for my trolley jack out of scrap wood and an old jack pad. I also sawed off the head from 2 bolts to make guide pins for the Top Loader. This made the installation of my Top Loader manual trans an easy one man operation. Sometimes purpose made tools are the best and transmission jacks were way too expensive.

Nicely done. whatever it takes, eh?

 

[Steve McMahan]

Anyone have a wooden fuel tank cradle for our 71-73’s? I’ve got to pull mine.

 

[351c1971]

The empty tank is pretty light. Maybe 30-40 pounds.

 

[351c1971]

The harbor freight screw transmission jack looks like an excellent option and the price is reasonable. I was not aware of it and I love this forum because it keeps me up to date on new ideas and products.