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Hello, I’m currently in the process of starting my first transmission swap on my 01 civic. My current trans is an auto with a little over 200k and has some minor issues, but my main reason for swapping is just the fun that comes with driving a stick. After reading up on everything I decided it would be easiest and best to buy a parts car so I don’t have to source everything separately. All the needed parts seem to be in pretty decent shape and there’s even a brand new clutch (only driven about 1k miles). This is going to be a driveway job so I will need all the help I can get. The parts car I bought has the advantage that a lot of the engine bay was already out and in the truck, I’ve also started pulling things out. The battery, intake manifold and air box, head, belts, psp, etc is already separate from the car. With my situation how should I go about pulling it? I’ve read many forums on here and have found a lot of contradictory info about whether I should pull it from the top or bottom, if I need to drop the subframe/ also if I need to subframe to mount the new trans in my car, and just what the safest way to do it is. I have a good amount of tools and mechanical inclination. The only thing I won’t have for this project is an impact gun as the one I own is corded (I’ll be able to use it when I install the trans since I’ll be using a garage then). I have plenty of hand tools and an electric Rachet as well. I would really appreciate if someone could tell me what they think my best course of action is and what tools and equipment I may need.

 
Rep Power: 223

Engine and trans out the top with an engine crane, then remove the subframe if you want, but i dont think you need it.
impact is nice to have but you dont really need it as long as you have a good breaker bar. The worse thing will be the axle nuts

 
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I don’t have access to an engine crane and unfortunately after buying the car can’t really afford to buy one rn. If going from the top is the easiest way to do it would it be safe to try to manually pull it out the top either with a friend or by myself (I’ve heard it only weighs about 75 pounds). I’ve heard so many conflicting opinions about the subframe it just makes me nervous that when it comes time to put the donor trans in my car that it won’t be properly supported. I’ve heard that you can use the auto subframe but one of the mounts will only connect by 2/3 bolts. I recently did suspension work on my car and dealt with those pesky axel nuts. I’ll probably go at it with a big *** cheater bar like you said or just find someway to borrow an impact. Luckily neither my car or the donor car have much rust or corrosion at all, just normal wear from being 25 yrs old. I’m gonna give it a go sometime in the next couple days but lmk what you think the best method is with a hoist.

 
Rep Power: 223

I meant pull the engine and trans as a unit, then the subframe is easy to deal with.
You can pull just the trans out the top but you'll have to pull the water passage off the engine to have enough clearance.


Or drop the engine, trans and subframe out the bottom as a unit. The problem would be getting the front of the car high enough to clear all of that.

It's much easier and nicer with a crane, some stores will rent them, as well as guys on marketplace.
I scored a used one for like $250 a few years ago