Top transmission bolt ARGGGG!!!!
 

I'm pulling the engine on my 8 and somehow I missed the top middle transmission bolt. After a couple hours of prying and swearing I realized I missed the bolt now I can't get it out. I tried extensions and a breaker bar from underneath, but the U joints are not allowing me to get enough torque on it to free it. Tried the same tactic with an impact driver but that just made my socket fly off and dissapear. Any suggestions?

When I did mine, I supported the weight of the tranny on a floor jack and lowered it slightly so the tranny was at angle, it gives your a better access to the top bolt, if you do this,watch the oil filter contact against the firewall .Put a few bolts back in the bell housing first.

Yep...drop the engine and tranny and it is easier to get at the top bolts

The easiest way it to get a long ass extension with the right socket and go thru the bottom of the right side. To get the socket to match the with the bolt.
Pivot socket man's vest friend for bad angles.

Everyone has there way of doing thing with skill and know how it should take 30-45 min to drop the transmission depending you. have all the right tools.

I use a couple LONG extensions with a u-joint.
Trick is to keep the length as straight as possible so the u-joint doesn't bind.
My total extension leaves me near the tail end of the transmission, up against the tunnel.
Then I use a breaker bar to break it free and a ratchet to finish.

You shouldn't need a u-joint or at least I never did. What you need are one or more long extensions (about 30" total length) and allow the rear of the trans to drop enough that you can get to the bolt head straight. The extension(s) preferably need to be 1/2" or larger size. If you try to use 3/8" it will allow too much twist defection, especially with an impact gun. I made 3/8" work before with a hand ratchet, but it twisted quite a way around itself before the bolt finally broke free. I was half expecting to shear in two just prior to the bolt coming free.

put some of the other bolts holding the transmission back in, it's pinched. Just my .02

shouldn't really matter. Unless your trans input shaft assembly, clutch hub, and/or pilot bearing are sloppy beyond belief the alignment is so rigid you can't pinch a bolt. You haven't put enough force on the bolt until it either breaks free or breaks. They get pretty stuck sometimes and that top center one is always the worst. I've done at least a half dozen RX8 trans swaps.


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fair enough, I've never done any transmission work on an rx8 (yet) but I couldn't get the tranny off my old mustang with that top bolt being the only one left *shrug*

Im helping my brother take out the transmission on his stang this weekend it is far way more easier to do on the rx8 then the mustang.

Thanks guys! I got it! Took a while to find the right angle but after it broke free it came out easily.

There should be a happy ending at the end of the rainbow...like this one.

It's all about the angle. I have a complete set of Wobble Socket adapters from MAC that work great.