Im guessing you are in a garage when you say that the car is on jack stands. I got this idea awhile back about using a manual chain hoist, after I muscled in the trans the first time, it was easier the last 2 times. I ordered a $32 chain hoist from ebay and hooked it up on a 2x10 on the ceiling under the garage, made a strap that goes around trans and hoked the hoist chain up to it. Removing the trans was cake in and out, biggest issue I had was aligning up the splines in the trans when I was bolting up a transfer case to it (this part I did on my back). Removing it so many times, I can have it done in 4-5 hours alone

I can make a video if anybody is interested. Trans is coming out again for a exedy twin lol

This is the chain hoist I bought

 

P.S. you do not have to remove the frame

 

^^ I would be interested in the video, because I was considering of doing something a little similar.

 

Using same hoist with engine hanger. This way you don't pull down the roof.

 

I used an engine hoist. i was hoisting tranny with flat tow rope. Got it in by myself in 20 minutes.

I have done it dozens of times. I tried from the top. I tried from the bottom. Ive muscled it on with the tranny on my chest. Ive used a jack. Ive done it all. Engine hoist was the BEST and easiest way.

 

I voted to pull the engine, in your case it'd help out a lot for doing the timing belt etc... especially if you have an engine stand. I had previously owned a 6sp and the gear selector can be unbolted and rotated to make install easier if you were to pull the trans for clutch job etc.

 

There has been some good tips... thanks.

Czarcasm, 4-5 hours is really impressive. A video would be awesome.

During the trany removal, I had removed the mount studs and rotated the gear selector. The gear selector still caused some issues, but rotating it helped a lot. These are little tips that would be good to include in a How-To.

 

You dont need to pull the head to do studs and cams BTW. Remove the cams, pull the stock bolts and install the studs, install bigger cams and install the trans.

 

Yes, but if you're doing cams, studs and timing belt, why not just pull it?