T86 Shift Tower hitting Floorboard opening

Hey all,

I haven't posted here in a long time as I can usually find what I need through searching, but I had no luck this time.

Anyway, I recently rebuilt the transmission(T86) and transfer case (D18 ).

After putting them all back in, the shift tower is now very close to the passenger side of the floor opening and during idle, will hit the edge of the floor. I loosened all the bolts for the floor boards and tried to move that, but it appears the transmission is slightly crooked, or off by about .5". Is this possible?

I plan on loosing all of the bolts involved in the mounts and then jacking the transmission up slightly and trying to move it over ~.5 inches.

I am not sure how this could have happened, so has anyone else experienced this?

Thank you

 

If the tub mounting was not altered, I see only 3 possibilities:
1) motor mounts moved as Glenn noted. If this occurred, they most definitely need replaced.

2) cross member mounting moved. Not sure that can happen unless mounting holes are wallowed out, and

3) the bell housing/adapter/transmission/transfercase assembly is not properly snugged up-usually because the transmission countershaft keeper tab is out of position which keeps the transmission from bolting tight on the left side.

Look at all of these, but especially #3.

 

Thanks for the responses.

One of the motor mounts is brand new and I am about to replace the other. Maybe the old mount is allowing just enough play, which is magnified further down towards the transmission.

I am 99% sure I got the bell housing/adapter/transmission on properly, but will recheck. I was 100% on that, but because you mentioned it, I will double check. I would imagine that I would hear odd noises or it wouldn't work well if that was the case. I have driven about 50 miles on this so far like this, but it is a Jeep, so anything is possible!

I keep thinking I am running into weird, odd problems, but then I am reminded that it is a Jeep afterall.

 

The transmission mount for the T-86 is adjustable left to right up to 1/2" the holes in the cross member should be slotted. If you take the skid plate off and loosen the mount it should move for you if youre in the proper holes

 

Holes on trans mount slotted too

 

Yes, The skid plate isn't on and I loosened those bolts and tried to move the transmission, but no luck.

I think I need to jack it up a little to unweight it then I should be able to move it a little. Fingers crossed and we will see.

FWIW, the motor hasn't come out at all, just the transmission and transfer case.

 

Dont forget to loosen the tranfer case mount bolt to. Thats slotted also

 

The motor mount was replaced about a year ago with the engine and transmission in. I then drove it for a while and realized I need a new intermediate shaft, so over the winter I rebuilt the transmission and transfer case.

I hope to replace the other motor mount this Sunday if time allows.

 

The center of the transmission should be about 1.5 inches to the drivers side of center on the cross-member.

 

I had some time this morning to get underneath and check things out.

The bell housing is on properly and tight all the way around.

I supported the transmission and took off the cross member and mount. I had everything on correctly and all I can think is that the slots on the mount aren't wide enough to allow for proper alignment. I and going to see if I can install the other motor mount.

Considering I took the weight of the transmission off the cross member and tried to slide it with no luck, I am left feeling like this wont work.

 

How are your body mount pucks?

 

Motor was supported with jack stand and block of wood to disperse the load.

I will give a longer response tomorrow when I am at my computer, but I replaced the passenger side motor mount. Loosened all mount bolts to allow for movement back to center. It is in the same spot. Now that I look at everything, I realized I am at the Extreme ends of all the slotted wholes in the mounts that would allow the transmission to move back to center.

The tower is hitting the passenger side of the floor. Without modifying the mount or cross member it cannot move towards the driver side. I wonder if the new transmission mount I purchased is the reason. Everything was good til then. I assumed the dimensions used on the mount would be identical to the one I took out, but who knows.

 

just thinking . do you have transfercase mount
http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/show...se-Mount-67-CJ5&highlight=transfer+case+mount

 

Ron,

I do have a transfer case mount, but it isn't that style. It is mounted off the frame rail. I have this style cross member:





The holes on the crossmember aren't slotted, so I think if I slot them a tiny bit, I should be able to move the mount a small amount which will fix my issue of hitting the floor board.

I will say changing the passenger engine mount was a PITA that took longer than I planned on, so I wasn't able to get to other projects on the Jeep. (E.G. figuring out why my brand new k&n oil filter is leaking...)

None of the holes are wallowed out, nor is the body off center. I am truly at a loss, and the only explanation I have is the dimensions on the new transmission mount are different than those on the original. Since I tossed the old mount, I cannot compare them now, so I will not be able to confirm that assumption.

 

Glenn,

Not exactly sure what you mean, but I don't think it is the motor mount(s) holding it up. Even if they were putting stress on the setup to keep it to the passenger side, it wouldn't matter as all of the slotted mounting holes on the transmission mount are at the extreme end which would move the transmission back to the driver side.

Basically, at this point, I can't move the transmission to the driver side without modifying something to accommodate for that movement.

I had started the thread to see if anyone else had this issue and before I really dug into it. Now that I have I see the limits and I am at them. I will continue to look at this and think about the options and let you know what I do.

Thanks for all the help!

 

ya didn't remount that crossmember the wrong way around, did ya?