Just wondering because I'm considering buying an AOD from one of the local recyclers to take home and build up and the Tbird is my only vehicle. Wanna know if I gotta rent a truck just to take it home :hick:
If you remove the dipstick tube (it twists out), yes. But then you may have trans fluid all over your trunk. So I'd recommend removing your trunk carpeting, and maybe bringing something to plug up the dipstick tube hole.
Hmm. Any chance the tube will just twist to a horizontal position?
Not without crushing or breaking the tube. Been there, done that many times.
...and bring someone to help you lift it.
Good to know. Guess I'll bring a shop rag or something to plug the hole. And maybe wrap the transmission in a garbage bag.
It's alright. I'm a certified lunatic ;)
Hope you don't throw your back out dropping that thing into the trunk...
I'd be a little more worried about getting back out. Guess I could always hoist it out with my cherry picker when I get back to the garage.
In or out, either way...if you're doing it yourself, it'll be hard on your back because you have to bend at the waist to set it in there and can't use your legs. I'd say definitely use the cherry picker to get it out, and having someone set it in there for you (hoist or whatever) or at least helping would be a very good idea.
A transmission will fit with no problem. Hell I brought a 7.5 axle home in my cougars trunk a long time ago. thing almost fit all the way in. only one drum stuck out.
I also hulled a t5 in my trunk once.. that was nothing.
Guess I'll see. I'm a tall guy and fairly strong, I can usually move large awkward objects a little easier than the guy next to me.
Take a freind with you, make them help, then buy them a beer later
I'm tall and fairly strong too, but I wouldn't try throwing an auto tranny in a trunk by myself unless I was literally throwing it. Really, what do those things weigh?
I would probably even think twice about doing it with a T5 (which is what, 100 lbs?).
It's just so, so hard on your back to bend at the waist and set something that heavy, down that far.
I'm just conscious about my back...my dad threw his out when he was about my age and it bothers him every day. I don't wanna go through that.
BTW I can fit in my trunk with room to spare so they're definitely roomy :)
Yeah Ive done it alone before. NO easy task and yes your back will probably hurt for a week afterwards, mine did. Have somebody help you if possible.
As one that suffers from back pain daily just as Red mentions his dad does I would suggest getting help also. Even if you don't have to bend or your a big strong guy or whatever. Ask yourself is it really worth a lifetime of back pain?
Something else to consider, what kind of damage are you going to do to the trunk area of the cougar when you attempt to do this solo?
Good points all. I'm sure someone at the recycler can help me load it, afterall I probably wouldn't be the first to ask. And I can get someone to help at home too. Then it can sit on my bench for a month or two while I install the TCI kit I've got my eye on.
I hoisted the T5 in my trunk by myself, and the axle...
I fail to lift stuff since it's normally [much] heavier than me. :hick:
You may want to spend 2 minutes and save yourself bleeding head wounds, scratched paint, and cherry-picker clearance issues, by removing the trunk lid first.
The T5 is really light. Hell I can bench press it, and I am not a big guy. The axle on the other hand is heavy. I threw one on the roof of my '84 parts car after I pulled it.
Can you drain most of the fluid first?If so,do it,and,either remove the torque converter,or fix it so it won't fall out (assuming you're getting it as well).Plug the rear of it as well.I hauled one home in my trunk,and went to Wal Mart and bought a pack of those puppy training pads and lined the floor of the trunk.They absorb great.Good luck ol' boy.
I've got no need for a stock converter I already have a B&M one that I plan to keep using. So that should save me some weight. As for the fluid I'd hope they'd drain the thing before giving it to me but results may vary I guess.