Figured Id gather some opinions on how I should go about pulling my trans to install a hardened input shaft. The engine is out and I plan to have the engine ready to install with the trans by the time the trans is done. I pulled the engine out the top and im not quite sure if I have the headroom to drop the subframe and go in from the bottom.

So, what would you do? Drop the subframe and deal with those headaches as they arise or go in from the top and cope with that mess?

Ill probably put together a post about the whole build once its done, but suffice to say, its more serious than I ever thought a Bonneville should be.

Randy, what kind of a car you drive? Regardless though if its one of those with 3.1/3.4/3.8 W body or whatever else is there, they all pretty similar. U right if you are doing it in garage, u might not have3 enought lift to drop subrame w/transm unless u can lift the car up high enought. But if u mentioned that u already have engine out, why not pull transm just as u did w/engine form top? One thing though, if you have a bonneville/or regal, or some similar, i would still recommend to drop frame down (incase u plan on keeping the car for long time) because those places where bushings mounts get rusted out so bad that subrame drops and then u most likely will junk the car anywyas. So id drop sub down, clean inspect, replace bushings or reuse if in good condition. i suggest that because i believe when doing such a work your doing, things should be done to support it. in other words whats the point when people upgrade engien /transm and put all that into a rust bucket which falls appart.

I suppose I should put a decent Sig line together. It'* an 02 Bonneville.

Getting the trans out is less of a consern than getting it all back in to me. I figure it might be worth dropping the subframe for the convenience of being able to put the headers on outside the engine bay and things of that sort. I might be in a little bit over my head as far as getting the engine and trans back in nicely.

Good point about the bushings, too. I've been looking into putting something together for poly subframe bushings, so this would be a good time.

Randy, its easier to drop them all at once. Connect them together outside of car, and drop as one peace. Just make sure to watch clearances with fragile things like brake reservoir touching transm or even worse, touching a shifter on a transm and braking both (N switch thing i mean, or whatever its called). U might need to take of tranm mount bracket which mounts on a side of transm to drop it in w/out issues w/clerances. Thats what i had to do, take of my bracket, also take of my AC compressor for it to drop smoothly in. once its in (meaning pass beyond all the things it could touch) i bolted all i unbolted and droped it in.

plus connecting them together outside of car should give u a better feel of things u doing, instead of hoping not to damage converter and shaft at the point of connection. U also wont have to F around w/fly wheel bolts and all that if you do it all ouside.