While working on my Fordomatic I discovered that someone had welded (rather than bolted) the transmission support in place (The one supporting the tailshaft housing, running frame rail to frame rail).

Is it possible to get the Fordomatic out of a '57 with that support in place?  I don't really wanna hear that you gotta pull the engine, but ....... give it to me straight doc......   Anyone know?

Unfortunately, finding the transmission crossmember welded in is not really rare. Between the bolts either breaking off in the frame, the threaded inserts either spinning inside the frame, or being stripped out, if not unheard of, especially after 65 years. The easiest way to get the transmission out with a welded crossmember, is to remove the engine. If you remove the front sheetmetal clip (less than a dozen bolts), you could pull the engine and trans out together. You MAAY be able to sneak the trans out , by sliding the transmission back as far as you can, and then remove the torque convertor and bellhousing, then try to "nose dive" the front of the trans, but that is pretty tricky, and risky.

Quote from: jhicks5 on 2022-06-06 19:41While working on my Fordomatic I discovered that someone had welded (rather than bolted) the transmission support in place (The one supporting the tailshaft housing, running frame rail to frame rail).

Is it possible to get the Fordomatic out of a '57 with that support in place?  I don't really wanna hear that you gotta pull the engine, but ....... give it to me straight doc......   Anyone know?

Do you have an old time Transmission shop in your area?  If so, I am willing to bet they can do the same trick they use on the 55-57 Thunderbirds.  They remove the transmission in 3 sections on those cars so you do not have to pull the engine.  The transmissions are very similar and I bet someone there can do the same thing.  Go to CTCI.ORG and look for the clubs in Minnesota and call the president and ask him who does the transmissions on their cars without removing the engine.  I wish you were closer, there is a guy in my town that does this.

Might be easier to cut the welds and rebuild the mounting points.