FMX removal

[69rangerman]

The engine is out and I'm ready to drop the tranny (first timer).

I understand about removing the tranny support and cross member. What about the cross member at the front of the tranny?

Pretty much the only thing I have to do is lift it, slide the x-member out of the way and drop it. However, to me it looks like the bell is going to hang up on the other cross member that the suspension arms bolt to (the one behind the engine, and just under the front of the bell). I've read the Chiltons but just need a little go-ahead from you pro's before I go rent the jack.

Thanks

[fordman]

i've nver took mine out when i had my c6 out. atleast not that i remember.

[Jake11]

The crossmember under the bell.
It won't let the tranny out. It's a real pain too. Might be less trouble
to unbolt the cab mounts and jack it up a coupe inches. Don't know
as I've always took out the crossmember. No fun at all.

[FORDification]

The best route is to remove that middle crossmember, which is what I did. You'll have to cut/grind the rivets out to remove it from the radius arm brackets, but then you can replace them with some good Grade 8 bolts/nuts when you reinstall.....that way if you ever need to remove/reinstall the transmission again in the future, it'll be a painless endeavor.

[ToughOldFord]

I just unbolted the rear mount, and since the engine was out, I just pulled the tranny forward and out through the engine bay.

[ToughOldFord]

What's an FMX doing in a 69, BTW? I thought 67 was the last year for them in the trucks?

[69rangerman]

Thanks. In the interest of not getting in over my head, suppose I did remove it from the engine bay side...how is that done with engine already out? Just hook the hoist up do it and have someone support it from underneath while taking it out? Where/how would I hook it up to the hoist?

I like the idea of grinding out the rivets of the bracket but doesn't that bracket also hold the suspension arms? I'm tool, time, and knowledge poor right now and am a bit overwhelmed with my first engine un-install/re-install.

As to FMX's I've read many things indicating the use of these on mid to large size fords cars and trucks. Chiltons indicates usage in 73-76 f100's and f350's and on into the 80's by other accounts.

Thanks for the help with this - I'll feel a whole lot better about digging into other areas of my truck if I can get through this process in good shape.

[ToughOldFord]

I gorillad mine out, brute force. It was a SOB and my back hated me for a while, but I got it.
But I hear the FMX is cast iron, so that'll be super heavy, you'll want to use a hoist with that one. I did that with my '55 Cadillac, the cast iron 4-spd in that thing is not something one can pick up.

[FORDification]

...I like the idea of grinding out the rivets of the bracket but doesn't that bracket also hold the suspension arms? I'm tool, time, and knowledge poor right now and am a bit overwhelmed with my first engine un-install/re-install...

You don't remove the radius arm bracket you simply remove the rivets going between the bracket and the crossmember. The bracket is still bolt on to the frame, so it's not going anywhere. Granted, you wouldn't want to enter a Baja race with the crossmember removed, but for what you're doing you'll be just fine. Just take an angle grinder and grind the heads off the rivets between the crossmember and bracket only (the bottom two) and then drive the rivets out with a BFH and a punch. Remove the other bolts holding the crossmember in and remove it.

Here's a picture I took while removing mine....one of the rivets has been removed, getting ready to get started on the second one:

[69rangerman]

Thanks Keith,

If the motor is out long enough I'll be doing that too. In the mean time with the engine hoist, a 2x6, long pry bar and juuuuusst enough garage height. I was able to bring it out the engine bay. With my beautiful wife working the hoist, and me underneath working the small end of the tranny, we got it hanging vertical then I lifted it high enough to cantilever on the radiator support, grabbed the tail piece and lifted it over and down.

Not to bad at all - should have listened to you all when I started this deal and took engine and trannyout together.

Now that I can get to the cross member rivets that'll be alot easier to do.

Thanks for the support - I'll post a few pics later for posterity.

Tom

[Maxum96]

But I hear the FMX is cast iron, so that'll be super heavy, you'll want to use a hoist with that one.

Yup, body is cast iron and they are heavy SOB's. They're not the strongest tranny around either. I tossed mine away and put a C6 in.

[69rangerman]

I think half of Georgia was on top of the tranny. What I thought was undercoating was a rock hard covering of clay complete with clay covered wasp nest. As you can see I had about 1 inch to spare with the garage door open.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k90/6 ... nyout1.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k90/6 ... nyout2.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k90/6 ... nyout3.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k90/6 ... spnest.jpg

Thanks again for the encouragement.

Tom

[jhannahokla]

mine had dirtdobber nest all over it too

[69rangerman]

I guess old Fords are so solid, even little critters can depend on them for a good home.

[jhannahokla]

they can shure make clean up difficult