I'm doing an engine swap on my Cobalt SS/SC, and I'm having trouble joining the new engine to the transmission. It feels like something is binding up, and preventing them from mating back together. What could I be doing wrong?

I had to get some longer bolts to bring them closer together, because the stock bolts couldn't reach the transmission. However it was VERY difficult to tighten the bolts and get the engine and transmission closer together. Now that it is closer, the stock bolts will reach, but it is extremely difficult to get the engine and the transmission any closer together. What could be binding up, or getting in the way? I feel like a failure right now.

 

You definitely should not use bolts to force your transmission to mate to your engine block. If everything is aligned correctly your transmission should slip right on easily until it mates with the block. Something is misaligned or is binding. First thing I would do is remove the transmission and inspect everything to make sure you haven't damaged anything yet trying to force the transmission. It's possible your clutch wasn't centered properly or you didn't get the splines aligned.

 

Thanks for your reply. I used the clutch alignment tool when I re-installed the clutch, to make sure that was aligned properly. What else could it be? I will be separating them to find out what is going on. Do you have to rotate the flywheel to align the grooves of the transmission input shaft?

 

You can usually rotate the whole transmission back and forth slightly until the splines align and then you can rotate the transmission back to align with the block after you have the transmission shaft inserted into the clutch center.

 

I usually put grease on the input shaft so that it mates with the clutch easier. Also, if the splines on the input shaft are boogered up, you may want to file them down, clean it off, and regrease to allow them to mate easier.

 

I fouled the splines on the clutch that mate with the input shaft for the transmission. The splines on the transmission were unharmed. I had to buy a new clutch, and chock another one up to "experience".

 

**** happens man just this time remember you will have fight it a bit to get it lined up properly but once the splines are aligned it should slip right on all the way up tight against the block.