727 Tailshaft removal ?

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Kent mosby

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I am prepping to install the gearvendor OD. Driveshaft is out and exhaust is out. I was looking at the access plate for the tailshaft clip and saw that it is not very accessible. I know that I will have to drop the transmission a bit. Car is on a 4 post lift so access is easy. How far can you drop the rear of the transmission without damaging things like the front mounts, transmission cooler lines or anything else? Can I support it on the transmission pan while installing the adapter? Any tips to make this easier would be appreciated. I will go look at the FSM right now.
 
You will need a good pair of duck bill pliers to open the snap ring to remove the tail housing.
 
The FSM has the opening on the bottom. Mine is on the side. UGH..
IMG_1651.JPG
 
Support the motor / trans and drop down just enough to get the tail housing bolts out and in. Cross member will have to be inbolted. Doing this should not mess up any lines, but each car is a little different.

Edit.
If you can unbolt the tail housing, you should be able to spin it so the access plate is easier to get to..
 
Support the motor / trans and drop down just enough to get the tail housing bolts out and in. Cross member will have to be inbolted. Doing this should not mess up any lines, but each car is a little different.
Is this common to have it in this position? Can I do as you said and rotate the tailshaft to get access? Or will I have to lower 6-8 inches?
 
Is this common to have it in this position? Can I do as you said and rotate the tailshaft to get access? Or will I have to lower 6-8 inches?

Thought the plate was under the trans cross member pad on both the 727 / 904. Makes me wonder if yours is older.

I would assume that once the tail housing bolts are out, it would spin so you have access to the clip as the other tail housing do. And as Demon said, duck bill spread pliers are necessary...
 
The access plate for the snap ring should be under the mount & is attached with 2 phillips screws.
 
Is this common to have it in this position? Can I do as you said and rotate the tailshaft to get access? Or will I have to lower 6-8 inches?

Thought the plate was under the trans cross member pad on both the 727 / 904. Makes me wonder if yours is older.

I would assume that once the tail housing bolts are out, it would spin so you have access to the clip as the other tail housing do. And as Demon said, duck bill spread pliers are necessary...

You can’t rotate the tailshaft housing even with the bolts out unless the valve body is out first.
The park rod is still sticking through the assembly in the tail shaft housing.
Usually the heads hit the firewall and that is basically your drop amount limit.
If you have a small block you need to take the distributor cap off or it will get broken.
I use two large flat screwdrivers to open the snap ring for the rear bearing in the housing.
 
The access plate for the snap ring should be under the mount & is attached with 2 phillips screws.
In the picture above it is on the side of the transmission. There is not an access plate from below. I just got the info on the tailshaft and will look it up
 
You can’t rotate the tailshaft housing even with the bolts out unless the valve body is out first.
The park rod is still sticking through the assembly in the tail shaft housing.
Usually the heads hit the firewall and that is basically your drop amount limit.
If you have a small block you need to take the distributor cap off or it will get broken.
I use two large flat screwdrivers to open the snap ring for the rear bearing in the housing.
It is a big block. This might take some doin'. Hopefully I can drop it enough to reach it
 
Set your crank balancer at your set timing. (say like 10btdc) make sure your pointing close to #1 and not #6. This way on re-install your timing will be close. That is if it's a SB .
 
Set your crank balancer at your set timing. (say like 10btdc) make sure your pointing close to #1 and not #6. This way on re-install your timing will be close. That is if it's a SB .
Is this for this thread? I don't understand
 
I am prepping to install the gearvendor OD. Driveshaft is out and exhaust is out. I was looking at the access plate for the tailshaft clip and saw that it is not very accessible. I know that I will have to drop the transmission a bit. Car is on a 4 post lift so access is easy. How far can you drop the rear of the transmission without damaging things like the front mounts, transmission cooler lines or anything else? Can I support it on the transmission pan while installing the adapter? Any tips to make this easier would be appreciated. I will go look at the FSM right now.
I had to do this very procedure on a new TCI BB 727 because they did not change the tail shaft bushing and I can tell you that I could not get the tail shaft housing out without putting a pry bar on top of trans in the ledge over the bottom pan and leveraging the bar against the frame rail by using a floor jack. Yes the exhaust, drive shaft and cross member all had to come out. PAIN IN THE ***!!!!!
 
Call me crazy but... why not just cut a hole in the bottom of the tail shaft and slot it with a die grinder. I am a dentist. It would be just like prepping a tooth. I will not be reusing the tailshaft
 
A little bit of convincing with an air hammer and we have clearance. Took about 4 hours to remove and install. A 90 degree ring plier made quick work of the retainer. I did not have to do anything but drop the rear of the transmission about 2 inches. Wiring will be finished this week while the driveshaft is shortened.

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5459D528-6064-413E-B892-F79A59F1ED35.jpeg
 
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