I have a 1977 Mav I am replacing the tranny with one from a late 60's mustang I have already rebuilt. My 1st question I have the tranny rebuilt and put back together ready for install, I was wondering if the shaft can be turned by hand? My 2nd question I have the crossmember to frame bolts and the six tranny to engine bolts removed, but I can't get the tranny off the block. What am I doing wrong or missing? Any comments gretly appreciated. Jerome
Which shaft? The small input shaft will turn in both directions but probably not by hand. The output shaft turns hard in one directiom and easier in the other.
Have you removed the torque convertor bolts? Sometimes it's a little easier when the convertor comes out with the tranny. you probably still need to shake it a bit to loosen it up. Also do you have the convertor for the 66. The one for the 77 is for a 26 spline input shaft and the 66 is a 24 spline input shaft.
You have to support the engine so that the tranny mount crossmember can be removed. The bell is probably stuck on the two locating dowels in the block. Shaking the tailshaft up and down will sometimes loosen it up or get BFB and pry it back from the block and flexplate. Sometimes the stub on the converter get's stuck inside the crankshaft aligning hole, rust and dirt etc. will cause this too. Just be sure the trans is supported well before attempting to pull it back. The 24 and 26 spline count is crucial for interchange with early and late converters. The input shaft should turn with a pair of channel locks(put some blk electrical tape on the splines to prevent nicks) medium force for normal rebuilds and very little force for racing rebuilds(just the way I build them though).
If you remove the cross member at the tranny mount you should be able to lower the tranny to take the weight off the locating pins and pull it away from the block. You might have to pry it back from the engine. Make sure that you keep the converter with the tranny or you can break things and make a big mess.
