This is similar to what the seller stated that needed to be done. Of course, I'm more for buying the truck than the story.

Anyways, I thought that the engine should not be connected to the drive shaft when the clutch pedal is pressed in, regardless of stick position, but it sounds as if I might have a flawed understanding.

 

I have found a clutch plate replacement kit. How hard are these to install for a guy who hasn't done more than regular matinence?

 

Clutch replacement is pretty straight forward. The hardest part is maneuvering the heavy tranny around. You can either go from the underside or try to pull it up through the cab. You'll be able to use a cherry picker if you pull it through the cab but you'll also have to remove the seat to make it easier. The second hardest part is putting it back in. Get a clutch alignment tool, they're cheap or you can borrow them for free from most of the chain auto parts stores.

That puppy is going to be heavy, that's the hardest part of working with it.

 

The kit comes with a clutch alignment tool. I have a pit in my garage if that would help. Removing the seat is no problem. How do I disconnect the tranny?

 

Here's some pages out of the shop manual:

 

How would I use the picket to lift the tranny throug the cab with the floor of the cab in place?

 

That's what they put that big, removable cover in the middle of the floor for.

 

Well what do ya know! I've never removed my flooring except to access the master cylinder and didn't imagine a floor panel as pictured! This is beginning to look possibly dooable and as a chance to gain some experience.

 

Now that I think of it, I can't see an easy way to pull the tranny from below. The rear support is riveted to the frame and you couldn't get the transmission past that. The only ways I can see pulling the transmission is either from above through the floor or pulling the engine and transmission as a unit which would entail pulling the radiator at the very least, but most likely have to pull off the entire front clip.

When I pulled the transmission out of my panel truck a few weeks ago I pulled it from the top. I was able to just left the transmission by hand, didn't need no stinkin' cherry picker, but the four speed is a little heavier. It might take two guys to get it out. All I had to do was drop the drive shaft, unbolt the transmission from the bellhousing, slide it back a little and pulled it up and out.

I didn't take the clutch or the clutch housing out because I needed to work on the innards of the transmission so when I reinstalled the tranny it pretty much slid back into place. I didn't have to align the clutch. I was able to reinstall the transmission by myself.