Thread: Possible to change drive/driven sprockets in-car?

Lordy, if it is possible I cant imagine it being a whole lot easier than just dropping out the tranny and doing the work that way. You would most certainly have to drop the cradle on that side of the vehicle for sure just to get that side cover off.

Mine isnt split, its all one piece.

None of the W-body cars have a split cradle but the bonneville style carlines do and some vans do. It is certainly possible in the car but can cause a great deal of agrevation as you are working against gravity! If you have the car jacked up a decent amount on the drives side only it would help. Sometimes putting parts back together will fight you and doing it out of the car is so much easier, but again it can be done.

I am wrong again.... Would you like a cookie for your efforts? What is your problem? Dont you have anything better to do with your life than come on this forum and post useless BS??? I would love to see a pic of this split cradle. I have installed hundreds of transmissions in 97+ cars and never seen one. Once again IF you can provide pictures and proof I will believe you, but like all of the other threads you felt you needed be in the right you have never shown anything backing up your comments. This forum is to help people not lead them down the wrong path which you sure seem to have no problem doing.

I have never seen a split cradle either and have worked on lots of these doing suspension work. Maybe yours was split because it sat in the ocean too long and rusted in half?

Yes it can be done. what year is the car? Someone step in if i am wrong but don't the newer gp's have a split engine cradle? but you'd need and engine hold tool to hold the engine in place. but it can be done

IF youve done one on a 02 WHY in the world would you ask IF they have a split cradle???

Its one thing to correct somebody on here, but for one, you need to be a little nicer about it, and not rub their nose in their mistake if they do make one. Please don't start that here, thats why many left and continue to leave "the other forum" (CGP) because of stuff like this. Two, if your going to correct somebody, please correct them using facts to state your case if it sounds that far fetched. We don't want to steer people in the wrong direction with false facts. Again...save that for the other forum.

Every cradle/sub frame I have seen is all one piece.

Here is a picture of a newer aluminum one,

same as the older ones...but they were made in steel.

The gears can be installed in the tranny while its still in the car. You can do this by lowering the tranny slightly out the left side of the engine bay, and fighting the side cover, and as trannyman said gravity.

There is a lot that can go wrong doing it this way. I changed mine out whenI was in there anyway replaceing a broken ISS reluctor wheel that sheered the pins off:

but I pulled the entire transmission and I am sure glad I did. Those check balls you have to deal with can be a pain if the tranny is still in the car. This picture was taken when the tranny was sitting side cover up on my work bench.

For this mod...gravity is your enemy unless your as skilled as Dave (trannyman)

I have skill, but don't want to take the chance and have to do it right the second time. So for that...I drop that bich.



~F~

Originally Posted by 19SE92

Trannyman your wrong again dude I've personally changed the 4th ooast sluth hub in an 02 se 4 door and it had the split frame and to the orginal poster yes the chain set can be changed in the car

92 SE?? I haven't seen a 97+ WBody with a split subframe, all one piece.

You can change the gears in the car, it's a pain though. And unless you have a very new trans, there'll always be some hard parts worth replacing/checking, so it's worth re&re and doing it on a bench.

Originally Posted by 19SE92

Hey Farns thats a good looking frame is that on your gtp now?

Hell no, the aluminum ones are worthless.

I run a stock rebuilt steel one, that I had powder coated metallic silver for the sake of looks.

~F~

BTW, I think it would be a kind, manly gesture to apologize to trannyman.

~F~

Originally Posted by GR8racingfool

BTW, I think it would be a kind, manly gesture to apologize to trannyman.

~F~

I TOTALLY agree. Not in a PM either, cause you stated your information in public, own up and state your apology in public.

Farns, not to take this post way off subject, but what makes the aluminum cradles worthless?

Oh where to begin...

If they are bent, or get bent you can hardly tell unless its a BIG bend. They can get bent and damaged pretty easily.

Seen many of them have stress cracks all over the place. These were not from racing or anything...probably going up steep driveways, and smacking the bottom of the car hard.

Then...there is racing with them...and having so much power, you rip the mounts right out of them, letting the frame almost fall out the bottom of the car. Seen that in person with INTENSE's drag car at the Pontiac Nationals one year.



and a picture we stagged for the fun of it to make Scott laugh.


Vs. with steel...

you hit them, they dent, and wont break or crack unless your really hitting something hard...like a curb dead on.

The steel out weighs the aluminum ones. I will find and sell the aluminum ones for those wanting them...but after all I have seen on regular street cars going back to the dealership...the ones that show up in the junk yards...or those ones racing...I'll never run one, but did plan to at one time, then wised up. LOL

~F~

Originally Posted by GR8racingfool

~F~

That is an awesome fender cover

Thanks. It was X-Mas present few years ago. The GF had it embroidered locally, but bought it from here:
Ultra Soft Fender Cover - Exterior Accessories - Car Accessories - Griot's Garage

Worth the money...I want to buy myself a second one.

~F~

I need to start a thread on the aluminum cradle cause I am really wanting to get one for the weight savings. But I want to know all the ins and outs.

Bumping this and waiting for the public apology to Trannyman, from the ^&*%$ that continually makes himself look like a %^&* while trying to kick Dave in the nuts.

Man up!