Classic/Antique Car Repair/transmission removal

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Expert: - 3/2/2011


Question
Is it possible to remove the automatic transmission from a 1956 thunderbird by itself(without taking eng with it)?

Answer
All of the service manuals call for taking the automatic transmission out either after the engine had been pulled or pulling the transmission and engine as a unit. Now, there was a guy that worked for Ford at the time that I worked for Ford, 1955 through 1962 as a trainer, who claimed that he could pull the transmission without pulling the engine. I did not see him do this but some one told me that he was an advocate of the cutting torch. I have pulled a few of these units and it was always with the engine and transmission as a unit.

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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