Hey, new here and this is my first post.

I have a 97 Chevy Blazer 2wd with about 221,xxx, so now it's time to change the transmission. It doesn't downshift to 1st gear anymore, and is very hard to get going from a dead start. Just wanting to see what people think and if this is gona be a PITA or not? I would appreciate any info that could make this job as quick as possible and just saying I'm not putting a used one in I'm having this one rebuilt for $400.00. I just have to pull it and put it back in....smart move? I am a mechanic but i don't do transmission internals, so as far as pulling it I'm sure I've got it but any info to speed up the process would be greatly appreciated.... Thank You

 

top bellhousing bolt is the pita. everything else is your basic tranny swap stuff.

 

Thank you, I have a 2ft extension, that should help a good bit with the top bell housing bolt, plus i use a cordless impact drill to help speed up bolt removal.

 

its not that its too far in there,but the firewall/body is too close to it. Ive never done a swap on a 2nd gen,but ive read and been told that you may have to loosen some body mounts and raise the cab up a bit.

 

yea that could be a pita if thats the case but gotta do it so, i'll keep updates on the progress thanks again

 

Make sure you put a quart of fluid in the converter before installing it. and make sure it "seats" in the tranny. just keep turning and pushing and it'll "seat" into it 2 or 3 times.

 

oh yea of course done a few tranny swaps just making sure theres not gonna be any surprises, I have had that problem here lately. I'm currently replacing a starter in a 97 Lexus SC400 and it has so far been full of surprises and disappointment

 

cool. Just making sure lol. Ive seen people not do it and have big issues.

 

Never owned a 2WD, but assuming the transmission is hooked up relatively the same, getting to the top 2 bolts is not really difficult at all. Just takes long extensions and a swivel socket.

Assumption: You have already disconnected gear selector, removed bolts attaching the torque converter to the flywheel, disconnected oil cooler lines, etc, etc.

Remove all exhaust components with the exception of the exhaust manifolds and the muffler. Remove the propeller shaft (making marks to insure you put the propeller shaft back the way it came out). Remove the transmission mount and brace (with the help of a strategically placed jack of course). Lower the rear of the transmission until you can access the top bolts. Somewhere in the process you are removing anything attached to the transmission you couldn't get to before (fuel line brackets, etc). Working from pretty much the rear of the transmissions, use either a 14mm swivel socket or a 9/16 depending on you specific truck, attach to your extension(s), snake it to the top bolts and off they come.

My own experience...it is so much easier if you can get your head up near behind the transmission. You can see well and a lot more comfortable. You may have access to a lift, I put mine on 4 car ramps and it works pretty nicely.

 

Its basicaly like any trans R&r like as mentioned the top bolt is kind of PIA but if you let the trans drop down at angle its not the bad and you dont realy need 2ft of extentions to remove the bolt.I did mine with about 1ft of extentions no problem.Its probaly more of PIA to get to the fly wheel bolts because you hae to remove the starter and get to them from the front side.