I have a new tranny that I just installed a Quaife into that I will be using to convert my 98 Se into a LSD car. I will also have a VE to install in a month or so when it arrives. I have thought about putting the transmission in now just to be sure everything is ok with it. Seems like a waste of energy when I could wait a month or so and then put the tranny and engine together and drop them both in at the same time. Any ideas. I would hate to do the swap on the tranny and VE together and find out I screwed up the transmission or it was already bad and then be stuck then when I could fix it now. This is along the same idea as what Ben said was the right way to put a turbo on. One part at a time so you know if you have any problems. Is it that much easier to do both at the same time then each separate. It sure seems like it would, but then all I have ever done is RWD cars. Looking for input.

Although it seems like a waste of labor, I would do the trans first. Just leave the clutch in there you have now, shouldn't be anymore than a couple of hours labor. If you have trouble you could put old trans in till you get it sorted out. When you put in the VE you'll probably have to drop the trans anyway. My $.75
Travis

If you don't know the condition of the tranny I would swap it now just to know that it works (and works well, with that Quaife in there).
If you know the tranny was fine when it was removed from where ever it was, there is still the question of the Quaife installation (I don't know anything about this part). It would suck to swap the VE/tranny in and then not be able to 'test' it out because there is a tranny problem.
I would swap it now. Enjoy traction!

The transmission is a total unknown. It has a 3 month warranty but it's been in my garage for about a week or so. Installing the quaife is also a total unknown. I guess I could do the swap next weekend. You say it should only take 2 hours or so. HMMM. From what I hear you need to pull the knuckle's off the control arms, which would mean I would need an alignment. This would be a good time to finish the es bushing on the control arms wouldn't it. Now I have two good reasons. Is it going to be that much harder to install the engine latter if I leave the tranny in place for the VE swap?

I usually use a pickle fork on the bottom ball joint.(try not to bust rubber boot) Pops the ball joint out of the knuckle(after you loosen the nut). Loosen the axle nut and turn the knuckle and all one way, then the end of axle will slide out. This method = no alignment. Another method I have use is to get some spray paint(your choice of color) and spray where the strut and the knuckle go together(the sides not the front). That way when you put the knuckle back in the strut, you line up the edge of the strut with the paint and it keeps the alignment real close. If you going to do the ES bushings I wouldn't worry about it ,since you 'll probably want an alignment anyways.
Leaving the tranny in while swapping the motor would be a PITA. Drop old motor and trans, bolt up trans to VE, reinstall motor and trans.
Laterz
Travis

Originally posted by 98sr20de
Is it going to be that much harder to install the engine latter if I leave the tranny in place for the VE swap?

Lowering the engine/tranny together was easy. There would be very little room to lower the engine if the tranny was still there...
Its easy to swap trannies when the engines aren't in the cars.