Removing Transmission 1999 GMC 1500 - Shade Tree Style 

Reminds me of my VW days: pulling the engine on our gravel floor garage several times.

The more videos of yours I watch, the more impressed I become. I’m watching the opening and thinking to myself “What does the Captain know about transmissions, anyway?” You answered that question by admitting you’re no mechanic, then turn around and show us how much you do know, that it’s more raw mechanical ability, common sense, and patience than anything else. I liken you to Wes Connors of Watch Wes Work in that respect. He relies on his natural ability, patience, and the wisdom to consult a manual. You two should be partners; you’d clean up. With your ability, you make it look easy, although we know it’s not. This is why I watch and will continue to watch.

As someone with a crippling problem of not being able to juggle more than one project at a time..... I gotta respect your ability to have so many plates spinning at once

Good job. Been there. Done that on my '90 Chevy 1500. Tranny broke free and dropped on my head and slammed it onto the concrete. Had post concussion headaches for 6 months. Replaced the hardened rear engine seal that did not appear to be leaking. Did not solve the dripping. On further inspection, the oil was dripping down from the oil cooler bracket above the oil filter. Easy fix by tightening the bolts. But, I learned how to replace a rear engine seal.....That ratchet strap trick works good. Used it many times. I had a weld shop repair the broken off mount hole for $40. Yep. Been there. Done that, too. That's how we learn. I would have jacked up each wheel and put cribbing under the tires. More room to work. Fly wheel on a manual tranny w/clutch. Flex plate with an automatic tranny. Hope a rear seal solves your leak. Those cast alum oil pans can become porous. Mine did on my 2002.

Cap’n, I hate to start off with a critical note… but… can you qualify as a shade tree mechanic if the trees don’t have leaves? Your multi-stage transmission jack was impressive. The battle of the dipstick withdrawal was a victory in and of itself! Getting a couple of 290K seized exhaust nuts off, is a skirmish for the history books. Having no triage necessary from the starter bolt spinning on the flywheel is a gift born of serendipity. Only one $70 hogshead to replace, is a pittance to pay for the experience of a day spent sledding under a rust proof conveyance… without a flake of snow!! All in all, it seems to me that you crafted an absolute masterpiece of shade tree mechaniking… even though you weren’t given any shade!

Howdy folks. Today, Max and I have the day off and my talented sidekick CK is working on a 1999 GMC 1500. Enjoy.

Great job Captain Kleeman

I am having so much fun watching this video. I am no mechanic, just a guy on a farm that needs to replace my old GMC tranny next week. Refreshing to have someone that makes the struggle real. There are great tutorials out there but they have a lift and all the right tools and I suspect have taken stuff off and put it back on to make the video smooth.

Just watched you work on your truck. I admire you for trying new things. Good for you!!! Until the next time, God bless and be safe.

Captain your jacket perfectly big enough to raise and lower that transmission all at once. The way you had it under the pan will balance it pretty good. Most of the weight in in the main body and torque converter. God bless

You wont get those 2 connectors out of the neutral safety switch or range sensor without destroying the switch and more than likely the connectors on the harness side as well. Whatever the goo is that secretes out of the switch from the heat of the exhaust essentially welds the connectors into the switch, I've had to replace the switch and connectors on every 99-07 GM truck/suv that I've removed the trans out of. Much respect for doing this on the ground in the gravel without air or power tools! Love the videos!

Don't worry about those "extra" bolts. Maybe wait until after the sale to show this video to the buyer.

take out top piece of floor jack and make a steel plate with angle iron on the corners .. its real easy and that jack will push that trans.right back up in place . good luck & keep up the good work !

OMG! Every time you say Clearance, my mind says Clarence! 🤪 I’m just glad you don’t have some friend named Victor helping you ✈️ 😆

At first, I thought it was the transmission pump seal that was leaking. Glad it ended up being the engine rear main seal. Much easier and a lot cheaper!

My 16 year old changed the transmission in his ‘04 Silverado a couple months ago in the driveway. He’s also changed the drive shaft and the transfer case

The key to putting that top but and bolt back in. Is masking tape. Put a piece of masking tape on the nut or bolt then stick it in the socket. This will hold it in to get it started. God bless

This video proves that a man crazy enough to rush into a burning building isn't scared to try almost anything! Done the same thing in my driveway!

I give you a lot of credit for doing this on the gravel. Keep a powerful magnet handy to locate all the dropped steel parts that always disappear in the gravel.

Love the snow sled!😂😂😂

New meaning for "block and tackle". With enough blocks, You can tackle anything. Good that You had all them nice blocks!

Interesting use of a sled to avoid having that gravel digging into you all during this project. For someone that constantly claims not to be a mechanic you certainly seem to be far more capable and skilled at this sorta thing than most people out there. Thanks for the upload!

Nice "CREEPER" LOL! Ron...

I wouldn't worry about that top bolt on the bell housing. That truck will just be one of thousands missing it. If it makes you feel better, use the washer trick. As for the bent bolt holding the cover, try a new one and see if it will thread in. If so, coat it with loctite and reinstall. If it's too loose, drill it one size larger and re-tap the hole. You'll need a bottoming tap to get the threads to near the bottom of the hole. You're doing great. When I saw that gravel you were going to lay on, it reminded me of pulling a transmission to replace a clutch alongside some railroad tracks. I did it at night during the summer in Florida and by the time the mosquitoes finished with me, I felt like I needed a transfusion.

“You have to spread out your misery!” I absolutely love your since of humor. You always make my day.

That "sweet" comment from your youngest (I think) was worth all the struggles with the truck! 👍

Nice backyard mechanic video. Stay safe

Hey Mike, nice job! As far as your bent bolt on back of the engime oil seal cover, I think it was already backing out. Because it wouldn't have bent if it was just loose when the starter bolt went for a ride. It bent at that point when the bolt hit it. As far as the two exhaust bolts that broke, just drill them out or knock them out and replace with regular nut and bolt. Did that on every trans I had to pull. I have been a technician for over 35 years and know what you are going through. You did fine on the removal. The top bolt will be fine without it. If you dont feel good about leaving it out, then by all means replace the housing. Keep up the good work! Your channel is one my wife likes watching .

I had my broken bolt hole piece welded back on by a fab shop. Yup, did the same thing.

A slab should be on your future for work like this Scary with makeshift tools and equipment. You are the professor of makeshift .

Man this brings back memories! Working on stone floors and or grass doing this stuff 🤔 Makes me want to come down and get you and your truck and bringing you up to my garage with my lift.

That top bolt didn't even exist on GM transmissions until about 1995ish. Millions were produced without and there was never an issue. Leaving it out will not hurt anything. Love the creeper btw lol.

I hit the "thumbs up", but didn't like You had to do all that work. My Dad was a mechanic, and had his own shop by our house. I grew up in the 60's coming home from school, and having to go help do what ever in the shop. I remember well taking out transmissions. At least back then all the nuts and bolts were SAE. And we had proper jack stands and a plate bolted to the jack that held the transmission. I sure don't envy You. Personally, since the truck has so many miles, and the bell housing has many bolts. I would just put a washer on that top one. Good luck with it all. I feel for Ya.

Always do it the right way

This is were old throw rugs or chunks of rugs are nice for the back and nuts and bolts. 🙂 Pertaining to the transmission, when my guy called me when doing my truck he said the unit had 3 out of 5 installed and the kit had 5. Want 5? I said Yes - and had no slippage on hills or pulling loads. 5 grip better and transfer power to the rear.

“Hangling” is a perfectly good word. It is the “present continuous tense” of the verb “hangry”. Thanks for the video. I’m now off to view the Pakistani Trunk Repair channel. Although they don’t have the luxury of a workshop with a crusted rock floor, just dirt.

I think that you are good to go with the current housing. Clean it up and add a washer and Bob's your uncle. As far as reassembly, I recommend the finger snap method. It really seems to work the best. Extra parts should go into the "Things I might need someday" box.

Great video Mike

Another great video. The major takeaway for me is, I will NEVER do that. LOL. My suggestion is.....selling As IS. But that's just me.

The gutsy man with the light colored shirt. I wear black when I'm down there. 😁 Nevermind - I see they got darker and cheaper as it went along.

Oh magoo. Youve done it again👍

@ 9:36....did I hear a fire Marshall Bill reference there??? If so, "LEMME SHOW YA SOMTHIN!!!" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣, and it would be very apprapro considering your career.

Washer for the bell housing bolt. Also, keep an eye on torque converter and make sure it stays fully seated in the trans. It can slip out of engagement & damage pump if forced together when bolting trans back to engine.

Kudos for multiple things. 1 sled on gravel, 2 cribbing and "stepping down" the Trans. 3 the whole thing. You can do a washer on the top bolt. Or you can change the bellhousing. OR you can leave it out. Most of the 350s running around don't have that bolt in it. The block has the hole but the bellhousing didn't have a hole to put a put there back in the day. I'd say you did a fine job, put a rear cover gasket, rear main seal, and a trans input shaft seal in it. If you decide to put a Trans input seal and bell housing, make sure you put an input shaft seal retainer in it. Also, you'll have to spin the torque converter in the pump 3 steps. Watch a video on it if you do. Make sure it's fully seated!!! Replace torque convertor bolts as well. Cheap insurance You have my email if you have any questions sir. Been wrenching on cars and trucks my whole life and a career tractor trailer mechanic for 15 years now. Keep up the good work sir!

I admire your honesty on not being a spanner jockey and like how it's a deep breath and get on with it approach

drive shattf or front and read should just pull out make sure you save all the bolts if there is any extra you need to locate and put back (chevrolet and gmc had there reasons for the bolts " you've miss placed ... lol the exhaust damn you got lucky there ! aint nothin better then the rooster tryin to help with your projects...juss keep a wigglin it fall out soon enuff. front tires on cross ties will give you plenty of room .. 2x4 nailed in the front and back of a tire will keep from rolling off and crushin your self.starter and tongue converter bolts need to come loose, then the bell housing bolts, (make sure you disconnect the battery,) or shocking sensation you will have......capt your my hero! should been able to unplug that whole or deal from one connecter at the back of the trans,,trans lines suck be careful not to break them...good job glad youve gotten it pulled... hope everything works out fer ya feller, thx for takin the time for Sharin with us ... keep it up love the channel hope to see more on the hen house/goat barn....

How many RU-vid videos did the "I'm not a mechanic" have to watch to get this project done? Captain, you got more balls than I do !

I think when they build vehicles they make it soo hard to work on them so you will not want to work on them. But for us it's a challenge. Word of the day extension, didn't doubt you one bit... I do it all time. Try swivels also. God bless Captain.

I think I found my new favorite RU-vid mechanic, sorry Wes.

For a northern truck, that body and frame are in remarkable shape.

Wonderful to see another project go well..you may be captain Kleeman however in my eyes Mr Solutions ur use of wood and what u have around you is brilliant and we wonder how the pyramid s were built lol keep up always look forard to watching what your up to

I don't know if I commented on the trac-hoe stump project. That was excellent work Sir Myoichael!!!!!! You know I should be out getting the tractor and mower together but HERE I AM WATCHING YOU WORK ON YOUR STUFF!!!!! Go figer. Wow, 7 heavy timbers on each side. Ya know they just don't build em like they use-too. Raising the whole truck another 9 0r 10" would make life easier.... Mr. Kleeman, You don't have an impact gun or no electricity to drive it? Yep, you said it again, no impact. Let's bet one when you get one in the mail..... This is a shade tree op, so a big washer on that top bolt is REQUIRED or they'll revoke your license....

You've got the patience of a Saint. I would have junked it and bought a bicycle before I went through all that disassembly c*&p. (never mind reassembly)

Yep you got that mechanic stuff down pat. The engineers do a really great job of putting stuff in the way of the average gravel slide mechanic.

I don't remember how many of those I helped my dad change using a floor jack. Mostly manual transmissions.

If it was me doing it I would use a washer on that bolt and forget it..change the rear main put a new gasket on the rear cover and pull the torque converter out and put a front seal in the transmission…you are doing a fine job in not ideal conditions…the plastic sled is genius…

If you set your parking break it locks your rear tires up so you don't have to worry about it rolling. It's still good to put some wheel chocks on your back axle though. I work on my car is in the driveway a lot too and what I've done is I went and bought one of the rubber mats for horse stalls. The rubber mats are about 1.5inches thick and and 4 ft wide by 6 ft long. And they only cost about $60. I can drag the mat around wherever I need it underneath my vehicle. It's hard enough that you can actually put a pump jack on it and it will role around really nice. And if you happen to drop a nut or a bolt it's easy to find instead of trying to find it in the gravel. I would not get a new bell housing. A washer would be just as strong. If you're selling that truck with that many miles on it the person buying it is going to expect it's going to have flaws

“I feel like I just got done being in a fight”😂😂 I’m not laughing at your pain I promise, I’ve been there. Keep up the good work!

I’ve said it before for a public servant,you get around pretty damn good for not knowing what your doing.LOL.great job,you never disappoint.just take it nice and easy,you will prevail.kudos 👍👍👍😎😎😎

Suggestion I got is invite Wes down for a visit on your next day off ... and you’re be done lol

don't worry about replacing that bellhousing .gm didn't start putting a bolt there until 99 ( ls style motors) that 5.3 liter engine isn't going to make enough torque to break the other 8 bolts holding the trans to motor bolts. I've run big block 454 with just 4 bolts never had problems with it .

Great video Mike, that’s the way we always did it back in the day. As I got into my 60’s, I did invest in impact tools. Game changer for us old guy’s. Love watching, great job.

Big washer and send it. Replace front and rear seal on transmission also. You have it out just go for it!

Love my 1990 GMC Sierra SL C1500 WT 3/4 V8 🤣 (4.3 V6) rust bucket. If you only had a set of tire ramps for more room. Great tip for ya Mike when reassembling your exhaust use brass washers under the nuts and apply copper anti seize to the threads for next time. And for anyone replacing their exhaust don't buy the cheap standard stuff from the 3 big auto parts stores ever (use Summit Racing) unless you like rust holes everywhere after one year. It's all junk! Also check your axle U bolts and shackles which get completely full of dirt and salt rusting through your U bolts. I had to go to the salvage yard to pull good ones ( cause the auto store prices are through the roof) than I drilled weep holes in the shackles. Cleaned and brush painted it all with Rust-Oleum gloss black. Assembled it on the axle and painted everything else. Two of my U bolts had completely rusted through came close to losing my rear end literally.

Just think Captain if you had answered those extended warranty phone calls they would have covered this repair for you. Lol!!! Just kidding. If they had fixed it for you we would have missed you using a sled as a creeper. Great video Captain because I’m a shade tree mechanic too. Looking forward to the next video.

Captain great video! Thanks for sharing! Kevin

I remember the days of the rocky shop floor and searching for lost nuts and bolts, everyone should experience that at least once in their life. The nut stealing chicken is another matter... That top bolt wouldn't bother me one bit, theres enough to hold it all together with what's left. Keep Smilin.

Captain-you are a class act. A lot of people would sell this truck "as is" and tell the purchaser everything is perfect. Back in the 60's, I worked as a mechanic for a while (cars were much simpler then), but I could fix anything from front to back, but on today's vehicles, I won't even raise the hood. 🤷‍♂️

Wash the back of the engine off with brake cleaner and take a good look for any cracks , while changing the rear seal ,, Regards J

Don't worry about the broken bolt in the bell housing

Stabilization before extrication! Fun times in the driveway garage. I like the wheel less creeper idea for this environment! It could double as a parts tray so the chickens dont walk off with the hardware 🤣

Watching this brought back memories, or possibly nightmares, of swapping the transmission on my 1969 Cutlass. On the positive side it was an old school Powerglide, so relatively light in weight. On the NEGATIVE side, I was usually working with about the same amount of clearance, on a similar surface (loose stone) but WITHOUT having a sled under my back. With that car I went through 3 Powerglides and one TH-350. That was the last straw (then, wish I still had it) and I sold the car in '86. . . As far as the bellhousing, at $70 I'd replace it whether I was keeping it or selling it. If I was thinking about keeping it, I'd be tempted to haul the tans to a shop and have them give it a good looking over for the bands and everything else. Repair it if possible or look at a salvage yard for a replacement.

Just love the grab a project and work it out attitude :) keep up the great videos and content :)

Here I was thinking you were Superman and gravel inbedded in the back doesn't bother you and then you pull out the plastic toboggan to protect your tender backside, LOL. I'm proud to say I can tear up stuff as well as you can😁. Where we differ is, I would never be able to put it all back together again so that it works properly. 👍

You doing a good job don't know why I tell you you didn't first time great

Fantastic Video as always and appreciate you having us along. I did a 350 Turbo in my 78 Firebird many Moons ago. Rebuilt Transmission Worked flawlessly, 57 other Issues arose from the Carnage I had created. Vowed To always Support the Local Mechanics Shop, after all Mechanic’s have to Feed Their Children Too! I’ll Catch You On The next One, Keep It Safe Out There Sir

On another channel (vTuned garage) I watched a guy rebuild a new wreched McLaren 720s. I think I was equally nervous watching as you took that 270k mile truck apart as I was watching the super car come apart. He got that McLaren back together and I'm sure you will too..!!

Just my a new housing youtube revenue got you. Lol. I couldn’t risk the learning on taking out the trans but I’ve done a few they never really seem to get easier or I didn’t learn a dang thing. Either way great work

That has got to be the best non snow related use of a sledge I have ever seen.

I like the way you work Mike. Firemen cribbing and a sled as a creeper. Good adaptive thinking 👍👍👍

Love the snow sled creeper! 😋 Run what you brung...

Oh man, perfect high-tech creeper for gravel drive shade tree mechanic'n, ingenious spray on transmission fluid.... geezzz, what more could a guy ask for on a Sunday morning, right?? You're a brave man. If I were the one having to do that with my level of mechanic "expertise", well, let's just say there's a reason you see old vehicles sitting on blocks with weeds growing all around them in yards around the south.

The chicken assistance was so funny, great commentary on this one

Remove the bolt and broken piece. Through them away and don’t worry about them. There are many drag racers who only have four bolts holding their transmission in.

That is a heck of a job to tackle Mike, I did replace a clutch many years ago in a small Ford Fiesta. Took me a day and a half to attempt to remove it, one of the neighbours was a mechanic, he came across and gave me a hand to strip down the housing etc. and gave me some tips to get it back together fairly easily. Last thing I had to hook up was the gear linkage, it was a manual transmission. Got it connected and took it for a test drive, the gears linkage was not lined up correctly, choosing a gear became a guessing game 🤦‍♂️🤣 I vowed to never attempt anything like that again, then scrapped the car shortly after....... Your set up was perfect, left yourself enough room to slide underneath on your sledge and get access to more or less everything. You used common sense to get the transmission out successfully, now all you have to do is replace the necessary parts and reassemble, just keep a box handy for the "extra" bolts 🤔🧐🤣

Well you did a fantastic job

Watching this remind me of when I was your age now at 60+ I tend to use plastic fix my stuff. Lol nice job Cap

I've been in the same boat as you have found yourself in currently!! I sadly didn't have the time to help a buddy work on the newer style transmission

You have done far better then me, the last vehicle I tried to repair went to the junk yard. :) Thank you and have a good day.

Ima tell ya there r a lot of them trucks running around with out that top bolt they r a pain to get in/out won’t hurt anyone I put over 100k on mine without lol great video

I have a 1997 Silverado with 338,000 miles. Runs like a cat

Man, DP should have let you use the shop to help you out, anyway good luck with the repair.

Watching your video... Im yelling at the screen... Go to the Rental Yard and Grab a Transmission Jack! LOL Not the safest method but you got the job done! You Need a shop Captain!

hey captain, i enjoyed this video as this is what i do for a career. for nearly 25 years now. i have many tips for you when you go to reinstall it , the biggest being take the six 15 mm nuts off the transfercase , because its going to make your life miserable and there is a gasket in between but it is not needed just clean the 2 surfaces and use permatex. the three torque converter bolts are updated by gm and are now hexhead bolts , dont reuse the original allen heads. anyhow thanks for the enjoyment and if you need anymore tips feel free to contact me

Being how I have stabbed a few transmissions by myself in the past I would strongly suggest you rent an extra back or a transmission jack to help you stab it back in. Especially with the all that extra weight of the transfer case attached.

Love the lime green creeper. I really thought that front drive shaft was going to smack you in the noggin. Very glad it didn't. Those adjustable wrenches are almost always the perfect size!

Gotta say , hats off to you for this one , being a retired dealership tech , watching you do this was pretty painful , way to stick with it !

God bless you Captain!! Lock the hubs in and keep going as our friend Muddyfeet would say. 👍🇺🇸

The rear main on my truck is leaking bad now too. I’m at 285k miles and have a plan for a full driveline rebuild (motor, trans, transfer case, diffs etc.). Great trucks that run forever but when stuff starts going, it REALLY starts goin! Lol

Yes I would replace it and thank you for putting another smile on my face this morning! 😊