Back in the day, I used to drag race a 57 292 std trans. Had access to a lift, Motors Manuel told how to remove the trans. First time that I did it, swore they lied. After unbolting everything, slide trans back, remove clutch, turn trans approx 90 degrees, slide trans out with 1/4 inch clearance. Not the greatest but if you don't have engine pulling equipment will work. By the third or forth time, I got good at it.

I've had the trans out of my 57 Bird  (manual with overdrive) 3 times over the years.  I would definitely not even try doing it without taking the engine out.  There's not much room to work down there with the engine in the car and it's actually not that bad to pull the engine.  An added benefit is that you get the chance to clean up the engine compartment and engine.

The Hoosier Hurricane gave you the straight story I have done it too many times to not have it scarred into my mind and my hands.  Good Luck.  MIKE

Mike, still lovin his 57 t'bird after 53 years!

A friend of mine just pulled one out of a 57 Bird last week. left the engine in, don't know what he had to do to get it out.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Hoist and floor jack are no help. No room and no way to use jack. Muscle and back. Young man's work. I have done it both ways. Physicaly a lot easier to pull engine and trans. Going to have to do it that way to put toploader in mine when I get ready to do it.

Thanks John,



I finally located my 57 Shop Manual which was buried in a file cabinet last night and found the removal procedure. I was responding to a member of the FORDFE forum who has a Bird in his shop and needs to get the trans out. I assume they have a lift and trans jack so it will be easier. Not something I would like to do on the floor in my garage.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

I did this on my T-Bird once, it was a T85 with OD.  It is less work for me to pull the engine.  Had to take the governor and solenoid off, the rear mount and its crossmember, shifter out, remove the front mount lower bolt and slide the engine forward as far as I could, pull the trans off the bell and slide it back into the tunnel as far as possible, remove the starter, bell housing, and clutch, then the trans could be pulled forward far enough to drop it out.  It just barely cleared the flywheel, I thought I was going to have to take that off too.  Laying on my back and fighting that heavy T85 would no longer be an option for me, I was about 40 years younger when I did it.  A non-OD trans would probably come out a little easier, it is smaller in the tail housing area.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Does the engine have to come out of an early bird to get the manual 3spd. out?

57 Black Tbird 312/auto