Hey guys,

I'm not really sure if anyone here would be able to help me out, but I'm going to be replacing the transmission on my car sometime in the next month. I've helped out with a few transmission swaps in the past, but would really appreciate if anyone on this forum would be able to lend a helping hand when I go to replace mine.

I'm not entirely sure when I'd be doing it, but it would probably be sometime around the middle of March. I'm extremely flexible with my schedule, but would likely tow the car into Desro auto and throw it up on a lift. In my experience it shouldn't take too long and there'd be plenty of beer and pizza and gratitiude for anyone involved.

Let me know guys!

Aidan

 

A hoist will definitely help. My buddy and I did the clutch a couple summers ago in my garage, and it was a good 10-12 hours total work.

If you haven't already, I would suggest getting new bolts for the driveshaft, and an assortment of really long (like 36" for the longest) socket extensions. There is one starter bolt that goes into the trans that is nearly impossible to see, let alone reach, and then underneath the car, it is very hard to reach the bolts holding the bellhousing to the block.

I'd like to come out and lend a hand, but it will depend on when you do it exactly. What does Desro charge nowadays for the use of one of their hoists?

 

Last time I checked they charged too much. Regardless, I don't really have too many choices when it comes to replacing it on my own. So I've got to use what I can. I should double check though.

Is the tranny on this car that hard to get to? I helped change the clutch on a 350Z and it only took around half a day.

Desro has all of the extensions you could ever need, plus air tools make everything easier. I'll definitely take your advice a pick up a new set of bolts for the driveshaft.

I'm 100% ready to work around your schedule, as I definitely want to have a little more experienced helping hand when I do the swap.

Thanks for the offer!

 

You should read up on the DIYs. Unfortunately, no pix in this one:

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showt...0&#entry1036057

You have to thank the S2000's designers for the difficulty, it's all related to the packaging and 50/50 weight distribution! The engine is just so tight to the firewall, it's impossible to reach the upper bellhousing-block bolts. So you need to lower the entire engine subframe enough to get at those bolts, and even then, you need those really long extensions to reach. On the way, a few accessories and ground wires have to be unbolted from the block and the steering shaft coupler loosened. Oh, and the driveshaft has to come out and if I remember right, half the exhaust too, including the exhaust manifold.

Doing this whilst sitting on the garage floor makes it even more 'fun'. My friend and I did the swap over the course of two leisurely days on a weekend. I'd also suggest getting some sort of alternative method of removing the driveshaft bolts, because if the car has never been apart before, there's a good chance these are stuck and the hex tool will round out the bolt head. I ended up using my friend's expensive Snap-on triple square bit hammered into the buggered up bolt head, then torqued out. There's actually not that much torque on those, but with corrosion, they get in there good.

 

Christ. Seems pretty time intensive.

The blown transmission was replaced last summer by the previous owner, so I'm hoping the bolts will come out relatively easily. With that said, it's always a crapshoot when dealing with corrosion.

Given everything else that's involved with replacing the S2000's transmission, I'd definitely appreciate the help. Thanks for the offer!

Also, how is your quest for FI coming along?

 

Just have a peek at my 'build' thread. The SOS kit is sitting on a table in my basement at the moment, whilst the car is sitting on my patio under a cover, but surrounded by snow! Once the snow melts, the car will go back into the garage and away we go. I am also going to do the updated piston oil squirters and check the retainers. I bought an F22C engine for parts, stripped off and sold the rotating assembly, and I'm gonna swap in the retainers and such. Not particularly looking forward to that, but oh well.

 

Better make that pizza a large.

 

I'm not worth too much in the mechanical dept. but I can def. try to provide an extra set of hands keep me updated on when you decide to take the plunge!

 

Thanks for the offers everyone.

I'd really appreciate all the help I can get. More hands, more pizza, more beer, more success.

 

And we're back (after the site upgrade)?

I was actually at Desro over the weekend to change the ATF on my Mercedes. They only have two hoists, and they are 'first come first served', so I got there at 10:30 - they open at 10:00 - and grabbed one. $17 per hour. They are open everyday of the week 10:00 to 9:00. Not exactly a very clean environment, there was dirt and kitty litter stuff (for soaking up spilled fluids) everywhere under the hoist. Still beats working on the cold garage floor during the winter.