5 speed Getrag installation

[Gordy]

I have my OGTS Getrag for my 1970 GT connected to the 2.0 engine now (out of the car) and was looking at how the 5 speed shifter hooks up etc.. The OGTS Getrag package deal sure is a nice setup. Just a couple engine to trans brackets were needed to have everything needed to complete. Great diagrams and pictures etc to explain everything. 1st class, Dennis and Gil!

Now my question is, it looks like it may be possible to install the entire set up with the shifter already installed on the trans (a lot easier to connect that set up while not in the car- for sure) by carefully raising everything up from under the car paying careful attention to the shifter coming up thru the shifter hole in trans tunnel. Has anyone tried this?
I will be using both an engine hoist and floor jack to do the install so it should go smooth.

If not feasible, how tough was installing that shifter with the pins and "split cylinder " deal that holds those pins in place when the trans was already in the car.
Should be set to go in as soon as we get above 0 degrees up north here. No sign of global warming in Illinois!
Thanks for your advice.

[neuropel]

Originally Posted by Gordy Now my question is, it looks like it may be possible to install the entire set up with the shifter already installed on the trans (a lot easier to connect that set up while not in the car- for sure) by carefully raising everything up from under the car paying careful attention to the shifter coming up thru the shifter hole in trans tunnel. Has anyone tried this?

Sure you can! Just go slow and watch that it doesn't catch as you go up in the tranny tunnel.

Todd K.

[opelwasp]

I put mine in that way. Just hooked it all together, tightened the bolts using Loctite red. I also put it in with the engine already in. Doing it all at one time is by far easier. Reaching the top tranny bolts can be a real b1tch.

[BQS4]

Gordy;
If you have your exhaust set up that you can unbolt it from the manifold, you can do this. I left my exhaust hooked up, but, for the shifter part, I cut out the sids of the shifter plate allowing access to the front bolts which attach it to the trans and it makes the install/removal process just like in the 4-spds in that you remove the shifter first.

[namba209]

Gordy, because both the engine and tranny subframes have to be installed before you put in the total package, it shouldn't be a problem. I removed the original engine/tranny from Willit? with the shifter still attached. HTH.

[Gordy]

As far as the exhaust goes it will be a header that I will be putting on after or as (whichever the situation necessitates) the engine and cross members are going in and up. Locktite sounds like a good idea because those shifter bolts don't seem like ones you'd want to mess with down the road while everything's in the car. How does the Getrag shift? My wife is concerned because there is no reverse lock out and 1st and reverse are side by side. Anyone have a problem with this or is it not a problem? I will pull the bolts out tomorrow and go with Locktite then.

[yellaopelgt]

I'm going to guess here and say that you will need to "hang" the header inside the engine compartment with wire or a bungy cord while you hoist the engine up,otherwise you may find yourself unable to squeeze it in there. But ....I learned this lesson with a stock exhaust header...so maybe you might get lucky.I found that situating the header while the engine is free swinging in the engine compartment, then lowering the entire thing down onto the mounts works the best. Just be careful it doesnt get hung up on the heat shield on the way down and your golden.
HTH
Joe

[CDN OpelNut]

I just did this with my new getrag and Pacesetter type header. The bellhousing on the Getrag was just a bit bigger and the header would not fit through the top. I had to re-support the engine, take the cross-member off and put in it from below....

In other words - put the header in from below while you can!

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by Gordy How does the Getrag shift? My wife is concerned because there is no reverse lock out and 1st and reverse are side by side. Anyone have a problem with this or is it not a problem?

Gordy;
There is a reverse lock out, of sorts. There is a detent you have to overcome to put it in reverse, so, there's no mistaking 1st from reverse

[Gordy]

I know what you mean about not getting too far along before you realize the header won't fit down thru. I have a new smaller header that collects on the down swing rather than my old Hedman header that went down and back and the collector was way back by the trans support. Now that it is out of the car next to the new one it looks huge. But it's done the job for the last 30 years. I may shoot a picture of it and put it in our classifieds...someone may get some more use out of it.
I'll be putting the engine in up from below. With the cherry picker it's nice because once the floor jack raises the rear of the trans to connect the rear cross member, the floor jack can get out of the way so the engine cross member cradle can be put up as the engine is supported from above.

[broszzy]

Can you raise the engine into place with the header bolted on allready

Broszzy

[Gordy]

I tried once, years ago, to attach the header prior to raising the engine up and it did not work. I had to scramble to remove the nice white header with greasy hands to get things to go in. After the engine was in is when I found out that the header would also not go in with the engine completely installed either! More grease on the header and lowered the engine a bit to get it to clear. The new header is much smaller (see pic) so maybe it could go on prior to install. Anyone have any luck getting the engine up and in with the smaller type header? Thanks, Gordyopel headers.jpg

[opelwasp]

When I was using the 4-1 header I found you could not install/remove it with the engine in the car. You either hang it in the engine bay or just bolt it onto the engine and put it all in at one time. I would chose the latter.