Converting floor jack to tranny jack?

Question

Is it possible to adapt/convert a regular floor jack to a tranny jack for the purposes of lowering the transmission assembly?

Answer 1

The differences between the floor jack and the tranny jack:

1. Tranny Jack has 4 points on a metal plate that can be adjusted to change the angle of the tranny jack and how it meets up with the transmission. This feature is necessary.

2. Tranny jack has a very wide stance to prevent a top heavy jack from falling over with an incredibly heavy item. A wider base is welcome and IMO necessary.

Other Notable Attributes

1. Minimum Height - Getting a tranny jack under the vehicle if you don't have a lift is key. Minimum height can be important depending on the make of the vehicle.

2. Max Height - If your working on an F350 Powerstroke max height will be very important.

The Challenge

I think the biggest hurdle is creating a jack that is stable. I would only use a tranny jack, not a conversion. I've seen trannie's fall over because the right tool wasn't used or a bunch of guys were just trying to manhandle it. If you do a conversion I believe the adjustable plate and a solid base (on wheels) are key to success. The height component is a clear variable that depends on the make and model of the car. If the a tranny jack is too high at it's min height you can always put the car on jackstands. Which, in it's own way, can also be a bit nerve racking. I prefer to have exactly the right tool for a job like this where injury is a real possibility.

I'm sure there is an auto store where you can rent one in your area.