Trans Jack Adapter

[turbojimmy]

Anyone use one of those transmission jacks things that replace the pad on your standard floor jack? At $40, are they a worthwhile investement? At the rate I've been taking my transmission out I thought it might be worth it if they actually work. The 2x6 under the pan atop the regular floor jack is pretty precarious.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Well worth it! I have one and have only used it once when I changed my converter. Biggest headache was getting the car high enough to get the trans out from underneath.

 

[TurboBob]

which adapter are you speaking of, because I need to get one.

 

[darkred87T]

You should get it Jim. I have that alumiumn low slung floor jack that I can bring over. It should work well with it.

 

[MSDGN]

Here's what I got...have had it for years now and have used it for many things...it has a low profile and besides it being great to pull the trans out I've used it for lowering the gas tank...removing/replacing bumpers...among other things...this jack is very sturdy and steady...the thing I don't like about the adapters for jacks is that they can be a little unsteady...not saying all of them but I've seen some where the trans is rocking back and forth on the jack...didn't make me feel real safe...I have loaned my trans jack to many of the Buick guys around here too...kind of like a community jack...it's more money than an adapter but worth it IMO...

HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS

 

[TurboDave]

Well worth it! I have one and have only used it once when I changed my converter. Biggest headache was getting the car high enough to get the trans out from underneath.

Any links or photo's for this thing? I need something like that, and don't want to buy a dedicated tranny jack.

 

[Boost231]

see those jacks are nice but its getting the car high enough to get the tranny out like said before. i have got to the point where 3 people a floor jack and some man handling gets it in and out ok.

 

[gnxtc2]

This the one I have:

HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS

I've done the floor jack balancing by yourself is a challenge. With the trans jack, its a one man operation.

The biggest thing is getting the car high enough to roll the trans out. I tried putting the front tires on car ramps and leveling out the rear with jack stands and it wasn't high enough. Probably have to put a piece of 4x4 or 6x6 under the jack pad and pump away then extend the jack stands.

This is the adapter for the floor jack:
HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS

You have to be careful with the adapter. The base of a floor jack is not that big and it could topple over. Notice with the trans jacks, the bases are much larger and the pump handle swivels.

Jimmy your more than welcome to use my trans jack if need be. Just let me know.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[turbojimmy]

This is the one I'm talking about:

Torin Big Red Transmission Adapter for Hydraulic Jack — Model# TRE2001 | Transmission Jacks | Northern Tool + Equipment

Getting the car up high enough is a challenge, but my brother has a low profile jack and I think I can use my jack to get the car high enough to get it out.

It's on its way.....thanks all.

Jim

 

[turbojimmy]

Jimmy your more than welcome to use my trans jack if need be. Just let me know.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

Thanks Billy. I had ordered it before I saw your offer. Might be good to have around anyway. If it doesn't work out I'll definitely take you up on that.

Jim

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Wow, you guys are fancy. The one I use is just a simple flat pan with three edges on it. I had my GN up on a bunch of 4x6 blocks, jackstands and ramps. Sounds scary but it was actually sturdy and did the trick. Also, even tougher to roll the tranny out when you have a lowered car AND a deep pan on the trans.

 

[ChavoLC2]

New product called Trans. Jak

In the latest Muscle Car Review July 87-The trans jak from Rtech is an innovative product which will turn any floor jack into a transmission jack. What makes this jack innovative is it actually tilts both up and down to help maneuver and line up tranny whether putting it in or taking it out of your car. It's small so it stores easily and is inexpensive. Rtech 865/977/8656. pic of jak in this months issue of Muscle Car R

Also in this issue there is a great article about Hot Rods project car called Sunday Driver the 1st 500hp twin turbo 82 Regal. Pics of Junior Johnson's 82 NASCAR Moutain Dew Regal that DW drove to the championship in 1982. GM had Banks build 4 twin turbo engines so GM could show off Buick Horsepower on the Car Show circuit..The car ran in the 13's on street tires .

.Article hits on the Explorer/Boy scouts story. How a couple Engineers were Troop leaders and took on the 1976 Indy pace car project. GM called Banks to Flint, Michigan to sort out the problems they were having. Which he did as well as getting 300hp out of it for them. Also how the Hot Rod's 1982 project car the TwinTurbo(nice lookin motor lots of chrome) Sunday Driver staying at the Buick Proving grounds in Mesa Arizona for 2 years and how it was the favorite of GM brass. Good reading

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Same guy..

that invented the tranny cradle, also invented the engine hoist. He then invented the turbo BUICK.....

Seems he wasn't selling enough of either of his inventions.

The tranny cradle works well. Mine is from Harbor frt.

 

[ChavoLC2]

Banks 2nd Career

that invented the tranny cradle, also invented the engine hoist. He then invented the turbo BUICK.....

Seems he wasn't selling enough of either of his inventions.

Now that is Funny Chuck you may have a 2nd career yourself as a comedian.
Actually that was pretty quick witted.

 

[turbojimmy]

My trans jack 'adapter' arrived yesterday. It's a LOT beefier than it looks in the picture. It weighs 25 lbs. and appears to be very sturdy.

The instructions say to use 'only with a transmission jack', while it is marketed as 'convert any jack into a transmission jack'. I haven't been able to assemble it yet, but I'm already wary of it given this discrepancy.

Jim

 

[SouthernCal GN]

Read the reviews on that jack- seems you have a good cause to be wary.

 

[turbojimmy]

Read the reviews on that jack- seems you have a good cause to be wary.

Naturally both reviews came in after I ordered the item.

The first review just complains about the height of the adapter/trans combo. I can get the car pretty high and have a low profile jack.

The second review complains about the adapter not adequately gripping the manual transmission for a 1953 Studebaker. I'm hoping that it will hold onto a 2004-R a little better. It appears to be designed to cradle the pans of automatic transmissions. He also complained that the jack is not easily adjustable with the weight of the trans on it. I'm not too worried about that since I plan to align the jack with the transmission while it's installed and to use the jack to remove it. Assuming I don't mess with the settings while the trans is out, there should be no need to adjust it again during installation.

Jim

 

[BEN]

I have the Harbor Freight transmission jack, got it on sale for $100 (it goes on sale periodically). Definitely worth the money for the one R&R that I've used it for. Did it with the car jacked up on stands and got the transmission out easily because the base plate tilts enough to tilt the bellhousing and slip it under the wheel well opening. This wouldn't have been possible with the adapter, because it doesn't tilt as much as the trans jack. Then when I put the trans back it only took 30 seconds to line it up perfectly with the dowel pins and slide it tight to the motor.

Well worth the money, and less risk of dropping 150+ lbs. on my fingers.

 

[57loboy]

When I pulled the tranny to swap the pump & convertor on my GN, I used ramps and stands with an adaptor on my fullsize NAPA jack. Car wasn't high enough to use the adaptor. I ended up using just the jack and a piece of wood to spread the load on the pan. Wrestled it in and out by my own instead.
The jack & adaptor is perfect if I ever need to pull the tranny on my F350. Then again, I won't even need to put the truck in the air for that!

 

[turbojimmy]

Okay. I have the adapter assembled. The instructions are a joke. If you're going to manufacture something in China, at least have someone who speaks English and understands the operation of the tool write the instructions.

There are 6 steps in the instructions. Steps 2, 3 and 5 are already done when you take the thing out of the box. That leaves steps 1, 2 and 6 where you actually have to do something. Steps 1 and 2 are self explanatory. Step 6, and you can't make this up, says "Screw other parts with washers, bolts and nuts". WTF? So whatever you have left over from steps 1 through 5 should be thrown together in whatever fashion you feel is appropriate.

The diagram on the cover of the "Owners Manual and Operating Instructions" shows the thing assembled in a manner that will not work (the rails are incorrect and the chain is installed in such a way that it would not wrap around the instructions. The picture on the cover conflicts with the picture in the assembly instructions.

The "Working Instructions" are useless, too. I've included the instructions for your amusement.

The new adapter sits 10" high. My old adapter (2x6 atop the jack) is 6" high. (both pictured below). So the car will have to be pretty high in order to use this thing. I'm going to give it a whirl tonight.

Jim