Well, I thought it was high time I started on it. Since nobody came across with any of the parts I needed (which was expected....I mean, who has a gimpy trans laying around nowadays?), I need to rob what I need out of Jinx'* current, busted up trans.

So far, car is up on jackstands, wheels off, cruise module and NSS are out. I plan on tearing the struts out while the wheels are off (I got NOS GM struts on the cheap from ebay, as well as new strut mounts). Now then, for anyone that has done a swap themselves, will it make the job easier by taking off the front exhaust manifold? Anything I should know about to make this job any easier?

My eye'* aren't as good as they used to be, is that a 93 SSEi that you're working on?

Yup

Brad...leave the exhaust.

You'll need to pull the oil pressure sender (before it gets broken), the bracket from trans to engine and then that sweet backwards bolt. By then..you'll have the struts and axles out.

Didn't we, uh, leave that bolt out when we did the engine buildup? That'* one less thing to worry about Ok, so leave the exhaust mani on. Strut bar is off the car...and that is all for tonight.

Not sure exactly what you are doing here but... even though you have a '93 and the writeup is for a '95, Techinfo has an article for trans r&r using a hanger and dropping half the sub-frame. http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...e=article&k=82

Well, got the driver side strut out this morning. Took the whole assembly apart and yup, the strut is worn. AS ARE MY NEW STRUTS. Funny thing about OEM NOS struts....they lose pressure over time. Just to confirm I went to Autozone and had them pull a strut they had in stock. Sure enough...very strong rebound.

I also found my control arm bushings are well past wallered out, strut bushings are bushed, and the axle nut is very stubborn. No air tools I am afraid, so I am going to have to wait until somebody comes back to town and, uh, borrow theirs Oh yeah...I also think the subframe bushings need replacing. Anybody replace these yet, and how much?

I'm starting to think Jinx won't make it for the second year in a row to SEBF, the more I see broken on her

Well, here it is a few weeks later....and I am still not done I am thinking tomorrow the trans will finally be all the way out. So far, I have: taken out axles, struts (new ones along with mounts are assembled), repainted the strut towers, and a few other little housekeeping things.

Anyways, here is a set of videos I took of the old trans while it is still in the car. The damage is quite impressive, even in this stage of the teardown.



Here is another video...shows the damage better.

I have a 97 stove pipe(rev. reaction) if you want to put that in. I believe that they are compatible(will check tomorrow)... I can't imagine what happened to allow that much play in the entire system. It'* almost like the spacer at the manual 1st drum disappeared. Also, I think they updated parts such as the manual 1st drum between the 93-95 years. They may have increased the outer diameter on it so that it didn't have that much play. I do not know though, since I do not have a book handy. If you decide to gut that trans, I'd be interested in seeing a video of it as it comes apart, just to see what all happened. I don't expect it, but if you planned to do that, that'd be cool.