Steps to changing Clutch (BUrb), must you remove the muffler?

[OverRunWithSons]

My husband has not decided whether to NOT remove the muffler when changing the clutch, requiring him to use a Jack and hold the Transmission up while sliding it back along with the motor (sounds very dangerous to me, worried it may fall on him), or taking the entire muffler off -which gets into those difficult bolts that can break off into the engine and cause more problems to solve. He has already removed the transfer case. Please tell me which method is preffered, or you generally do -when changing a clutch? It is a '88 Sburban.

[Zoomad75]

You can do it either way. The last clutch that dirtylarry and I did (94 Z71) we didn't have to remove the exhaust. We did have a transmission floor jack that we used though. To be safe we wrapped a ratchet strap around it to lock it down and keep it from falling.

You can rent transmission floor jacks from rental shops. Have him rent one.

[OverRunWithSons]

We accually have a tranmission jack that we bought many years ago and used once, but the problem is.. with the set up of this muffler situation, it will not work out using the transmisson jack , too bulky-in the way of muffler, so he is left with only using standard Jack to move this thing back. I am showing him this thread, thanks for help, it sounds much SAFER to use the correct Jack , HAVE a helper, PLUS tie it up so it will not fall.

[Zoomad75]

The suburban muffler is most likely in a different spot than the Z71 we were working on. Our problem was the exhaust pipe from one side crossed behind the t/case. Once the tcase was out of the way we had enough room to slide the trans back.

The key is to take it slow. I'm assuming the trans is a SM465 which is one heavy chunk of iron and it's ackward as hell to balance on a regular floor jack. If he hasn't already, unbolt the turtle shell (part of the floor over the tranny) and take it out. I'm not sure if the suburban has the bolt in section or not. Reason being, with the shell off you can have someone inside stabilizing the tranny from above. Or for that matter, guys have swung the boom of a engine hoist (cherry picker) through the door and lowered the trans down by using a strap.

I helped dirtylarry install the 465 to his truck by standing inside the cab and lifting up on the shifter as he worked the jack and we guided the input shaft into the clutch together. Keep in mind the shifter wasn't designed as a lift point, but it's a good point to hang onto to keep the tranny balanced on the floor jack.

Don't rush it and it should come out without a problem.