..i did pull the pass. side axle. What am i missing here? Do i HAVE TO drop the tranny

 

You have to separate them enough so that the input shaft splines are clear of the clutch disc.

 

about how much is that? I have it seperated about an inch right now.

 

Something tells me you bit off more then you can chew.

Obviously you need to pull the tranny further then 1" so the input shaft clears.

 

You are correct, this is much more then i have ever done before, but paying somebody to do it isn't an option right now, so i have to learn as i go! Kinda sucks to have to do this since i was planning to sell the car within the next 2 months...

I'll drop the tranny then. Any hints on getting it bolted back up to the new motor? Like, lifting it back up and alligning it?

 

Remove them together and then separate them. Drop them both onto the ground and pick the car up, slide engine and trans out, much much easier.

 

never done this, but sounds kinda easy...shud i say easier.

 

since you already have it unbolted and a 1 inch gap,just pull it out more and put it on the ground, than pull the engine. when you put it back together do what Jime said. connect the engine and tranny together than drop them in.

 

since you already have it half separated, you should remove the driver side axle, and completely drop the tranny from the engine. Other wise bolt it back on to the engine and remove them together as Jime suggested.

 

Even though you have a 1" gap, you still have the pressure plate (for manual) and torque converter (auto) to clear, which stick out a good distance inside the bell housing. If it's a manual you can try depressing the clutch, unless all you lines are disconnected, then manually move the fork.

Otherwise, drop the crossmember if you havent already, remove the passenger side engine mount and slide the engine further away from the trans. If that is MORE work than dropping the trans, just drop it and call it a day. Or throw a couple bolts back in the bell housing and remove engine and trans together as Jime suggested.

 

Great suggestions. I'm going to take the other axle and tranny mount off, then drop the tranny. Since the engine is basically already laying on top of the engine mounts, i think at this point it would be easier to get it from the top, but i'll definitely use the bottom when i mount everything back up. Keep the suggestions coming. Right now i'm mostly concerned about putting everything back together and having everything actually allign.

 

I can't drop the tranny, it's getting stuck; any hints? i can't get the input shaft out, so they're still moving as one piece in the middle...

 

Ok i got everything out, now it's just a game of getting the new engine bought and put it...

 

Is this a DEK or 3.5 swap?

 

It's a DE swap.

 

I'm also doing a swap to a another DE since my old engine blew a headgasket. Is there an easy way to drop the transmission without a transmission jack? Would a floor jack and 2x4 work? I also need to get an engine hoist to pull the engine out.

 

Yes, that'll work. Alternatively, just drop it down onto your chest, then onto the ground. No need for a jack at all.