UNsupported Transmission and Exhaust!! FOUND OUT TOO LATE

3909 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by DadofThree, Mar 1, 2016

DadofThree

Discussion Starter · Feb 28, 2016

Crap. This is the Jeep that keeps on giving....

Yes, the manifold bolt is broken, but it seemed that the Jeep was making A LOT more noise than from just the engine bay. So I crawled around and found that the exhaust pipe was connected to the Cat Convert with HANGER WIRE. One bolt was missing, and the only two that were in there were loose.

SO....I dropped the skid plate to get to the exhaust, and found out (THE HARD WAY) that the skid plate was THE ONLY THING supporting both the Transmission and the Exhaust!!

I was lucky that I had some Jack Stands handy. There is NO transmission mount cross bar under this Jeep. And the Exhaust hangers have dry rotted to broken.

So Now, I need to get a Cross Brace and I'm asking for Advice:

My plan is to Mount the brace (if there are actual mounting locations) and that will show me where my transmission is suppose to rest.

I need some expert knowledge about any FLAGS that I may have coming up that I don't know about. And some Knowledge of what steps you would take to put this back in right.

HELP!

Thank you,
Dave

I took the drive shaft out until transmission is put back in the right location.

The jack is on the dolly for additional height to the Jack. I've got Jack Stands supporting the transmission and exhaust right now.

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DadofThree

Discussion Starter · #2 · Feb 28, 2016

CRAP again....

Just found out that it WAS the transmission support. NEWBIE FAIL! Both Relieved & Embarrassed!

So What Methods do you all do to get this back in?

Thanks again,
Dave

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Ranger Daryl

· #3 · Feb 29, 2016

just noticed you have all the parts just be sure to support the transmission when dropping the skid plate. I made the same mistake the first time I dropped a yj skid plate so don't feel too bad. I had to replace some of my parts as mine was missing the torque bracket and the transmission wasn't even bolt to the mount. I just put the rolling floor jack underneath it and then I had to use a ratchet strap attached to the drive shaft to persuade it over and realign everything. Then I tightened the hardware and was good to go.

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Y-Yes

· #4 · Mar 1, 2016

My mechanic/friend/Jeep enthusiast told me that the skidplate/crossmember is bolted into "captive nuts" (or threaded holes--can't remember which) within the bottom of the frame. In other words, unlike most such applications, IME, it isn't through-bolted anywhere.

And he explained that the "captive nuts" rust out, and spin, inside the frame, making them a pain/impossible to hold, to tighten (or, he told me the frame merely has threaded holes in it--again, I can't remember).

ANYWAY, to my consternation, I learned that he had merely welded the crossmember/skid plate TO the frame. Since he replaced the original tranny with one (and a transfer case) from a '99 Cherokee, and did the clutch at that time, he wasn't too worried about needing to remove the skidplate/crossmember (he bought the Jeep for plowing his business, so that makes sense, for him--he said he'd just "...cut it off and re-weld it, if need be...").

And I'm sure he would--no problem. He is extremely skilled, and seemingly fearless--LOL.

But you should ensure that whatever holds your bolts in that frame is/are in good shape. I'm sure others can shed more light, as I've seen at least one person here who's photos showed that they appear to have welded plates onto the bottom of the frame, where the bolts go, between the frame and the skid plate.

I assume that was to allow the use of new "captive nuts" or frame-threading, etc....

Just thought I should raise your awareness of this (potential) issue--but again, please consult the experts, for any needed solution(s).

And please, experts: if I've misinformed the OP, please feel free to correct me, so us noobs can all learn together.

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reno92

· #5 · Mar 1, 2016

For more height put the wood on top of the jack not under. A floor jack with a piece of wood to spread the load will lift it back into place, get new bushings and bolt it up.
If your skid plate bolts broke or stripped as was mentioned above, I wouldn't weld it on, just too much work to cut it off and re-weld. There are several ways to address this issue, the best is using nutserts, do a google search for a more user friendly way. Only one of mine stripped and I pot a new nut through a hole in the frame and new bolt to hold it on.

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DadofThree

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 1, 2016

Thank you for the replies.

The skid plate / transmissions support is back on, and everything is in place. I put a gasket and new fasteners where the exhaust was not fastened correctly. I purchased a muffler rubber hanger so that the exhaust is supported properly.

Drove her yesterday and she does sound quieter, but now it's time to move on to the manifold replacement and donut gasket.

There are plenty of other issues, but I'll write those up in different posts.

Thanks again for the help. Dave

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