P5B Auto transmission removal with Converter? BW35

[ricky8664]

Now the engine is running fine we're currently working on the cooling system. Hopefully that will be flushed (please see other post on flushing) and the new hoses and pump fitted. We will then turn to trying to correct the transmission oil leaks which the car has always had in my ownership but have gotten progressively worse.
Leak from the bellhousing seems to be what is causing most of the oil to leak onto the exhaust front pipes and we assume this is from the front seal, which the transmission has to be removed in order to get at.
The question is, can the transmission be removed with the torque converter attached. The P5B manual says no, and that the transmission must be detached from the TC and the TC removed separately.

There are a couple of vents at the base of the bellhousing and I wondered if these could be used to release the TC from the flex plate and take the transmission and TC off together.

If this can be done then it would make installation simpler as you can properly attach TC to Transmission off the car, rather than trying to line it up underneath the car.

Would be grateful to hear from anyone who has actually done this on one of our cars and knows whether the trans and TC can be removed complete.

[enigmas]

Why not simply take the engine and transmission out as one unit. I've done this multiple times over the years and I generally find it much easier than grovelling about under the car whilst it's on stands. It also gives you the opportunity to sort out issues you will probably have with the engine. Eg, Marginal, eroded coolant welsh plugs, a sump full of sludge and perhaps a leaky front and rear main seal.

Yes, you can probably remove the torque convertor with the transmission but you are more likely to drop it on the ground as it slips off the trans input shaft flooding your workspace with ATF and damaging the torque convertor nose in the process. Beside that, you'll have the extra weight of the torque convertor to deal with when attempting to remove the transmission.

[Jens Munk]

Definitely take it out as a unit. 

[ricky8664]

I was planning to remove the engine at some time and now seems the time, along with the transmission, Whilst out I can paint the engine after clearing the waterways, check/ Tcut or paint the inner wings and degrease and paint the subframe. Not expecting any rust as the engine oil will hopefully have kept that at bay. Can also check the front and rear crank seals at he same time and replace as required. Good time to be doing it too over the (dry??) summer. Then it should be all downhill to the respray! and the bigger job of putting it all back together again after 20 years.

[ricky8664]

Thanks for the pics. Probably easier to remove both than try and separate trans and TC under the car and, more importantly, try to get them properly aligned without damaging the TC or oil pump when re-installing.