Using a Floor Jack as a Transmission Jack?

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dibbons

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With the vehicle on jack stands it is a little tricky trying to balance a torqueflite on a floor jack by yourself. How do you secure it? Fabricate a base, rope it on, etc. Ideas? Thank you.

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Yup! Hate to do it but......
There is also an adapter that can be swapped in place of what is there at the lift point now. That could help ya out.
 
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We got one of these years ago for trucks too heavy for the lift and it works like a champ. We've used it on an Eaton transmission without issue.
I have this and unless the car is a good bit UP! I can’t use it very much or at all. It’s a good unit, just needs room.
 
I have this and unless the car is a good bit UP! I can’t use it very much or at all. It’s a good unit, just needs room.
Yeah it's pretty tall, but some of those adapters are pretty close in height. We have one for a standard floor jack that is just a flat piece of steel with no adjustment. It works, but it can be a pain.
 
I've done it with a short 2x8 or 12x12 piece of plywood on the larger floor jacks. If you can wrap a ratchet strap over it and the trans to secure it and just place yourself out of harms way. Like Rumblefish said, you run out of room unless the car is way up in the air. with either jacks. I've always had to slid the trans off the jack and out and even then the bell will cause you some grief.

Be sure to plug to wire/zip tie a back of the trans tail shaft as you will get fluid out if tipped down.
 
I'm no expert but i also got tired of the balancing act too. So a piece of 3/4" plywood (about 10"x11"), 2 bolts through the floor jack "saddle" , and I have something that works for me. I put a strip of wood along the front to prevent any oncern of the trans sliding off in case I get the trans too far forward with the TC in it. I countersunk the bolts so they don't scrape up the pan. For what it's worth!!
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I took tie down straps and hooked them on the torsion bars pulled it up there and pushed it on the dowels. Kinda crazy way to do it but it worked. Lol
 
when i did my 4 spd trans recently i used a 2x6 on the jack and a harbor frieght small moving dolly on top of the 2x6. the dolly gave me confidence the trans was not going to roll off of the side.
 
There is a jack adapter for transmissions. Used one for years before i bought a hoist and a transmission jack. I lifted one into place when i was 20 something. Was a 727. Never again.
 
Up here in GWN I went to Princess Auto, similar to Harbour freight and bought this pneumatic ATV/motorcycle/8 3/4 jack. Cost $60 Canuck bucks on sale.
Was a lifesaver putting 8 3/4 in myself.
Operates either by air or hand.
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I happened to find the floor jack adaptor type on craigslist for 20 bucks....worked great.
 
I needed one so I built one. A little extra scrap steel, four casters, and a scissor jack...I could add to the deck, but it works pretty well with a big block 727. I don't think I'd be comfortable with a four speed without some added steel to keep it from sliding off.

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I'm no expert but i also got tired of the balancing act too. So a piece of 3/4" plywood (about 10"x11"), 2 bolts through the floor jack "saddle" , and I have something that works for me. I put a strip of wood along the front to prevent any oncern of the trans sliding off in case I get the trans too far forward with the TC in it. I countersunk the bolts so they don't scrape up the pan. For what it's worth!!
View attachment 1715628897

Back when I was playing w/ chevies , I built a holder that fit a turbo 360 pan exactly w/ a rim around it . Even built one w/ screw jacks to level or tilt a 400 trans. , but it didnt work out , too unstable .
 
I have a trans adapter for my floor jack. It does require very tall jack stands. I bought tripod scaffolding footers from industrial surplus place and welded channel iron clips on their tops. The first 4 are a little shorter, painted brown and got 4X4 channel iron clips but the frame rails didn't sit down in it well. The next 4 got 5X5 inch channel, and painted yellow. So there are now 8 stands here.
Jack doesn't lift that far so I have to get er up on the short store bought stands first, add spacer, and go again. Too much labor for this old man today.

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