I just finished doing the first half of this surgery (dropped the a340h today) FYI- Started at 10:00 am. Tranny out at 8:00 pm. PITA.

Now here is the part that sucks. With two bolts left to go on the removal, I notice that I have oil leaking, from what looks like underneath the passenger side head gasket at the rear. Lots of cursing ensued. If anyone has an idea why oil would be leaking from this area, please let me know. Antifreeze looks good. I just changed the oil last week and haven't really driven it, so it looks good too. If you are going to say blown head gasket or cracked head, shoot me now.

 

jk

Check and make sure its not flowing down from the valve covers.

 

Yeah I just noticed last weekend on my fairly new engine that I've got oil all over the back of it and onto my fairly new transmission! I'm thinking it's just the half moon gasket at that end of the valve cover. But if your head is clean, and it doesn't start until the block, then I'd start worrying a bit more.

 

Yep, the half-moons have been known for leaking. Only way I've heard to make sure they don't is to rtv them in. Don't panic right away.

 

BTW, i crawled underneath and, sure enough, looks like it is coming from the valve covers. Thanks for the info.

Now for my new problem, I was looking at the trans today and saw that the piece that connects the throttle cable to the transmission is broken. Does this make a difference, how tough is it to change it?

 

Okay, I got everything changed and now I am trying to get the transmission back in. I have a good transmission jack, but the bloody transmission is so long that I am having a hard time balancing it (since the tranny pan is not flat all the way across the bottom).

Anyone have any helpful tips as to how to balance this pig to get it back in?

 

Sorry i do not..

Try to get another couple hands..

 

Yeah, more people. I ended up taking the t-case off mine to make it easier, and it was still a pain. Only my second time doing it though, so I'm sure it gets easier with time. I think, though, that with an auto tranny you don't have that option?

 

I changed my a340h on my 88 4runner by myself , I had the cross member attached to the tranny and bolted the cross member first and then wiggled the tranny into place.