The Chevrolet Corvette C5 was produced from 1997 to 2004. This model of Corvette came equipped with either a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission. Significant design changes for the drive train were incorporated over the previous model, the C4. The addition of a torque tube and the transmission in rear of the car are two of the major changes. With these design changes, the procedure to remove the transmission is considerably different from previous models.
Raise the Corvette with a floor jack, and support the car with four jack stands. Open the hood and disconnect the negative battery terminal. Place the transmission in neutral.
Remove the rear wheel with a lug wrench. Disconnect the right-side muffler using a socket and ratchet.
Remove the tunnel closing panel, which is used to enclose the drive line from the bottom. There will be about 10 bolts that you will remove with a socket and ratchet. Remove all the flex plate to torque converter bolts after taking the access plug out of the rear bell housing. Use an extension for the socket and ratchet setup for the flex plate bolts.
Loosen the clamp holding the propeller shaft hub between the transmission and torque tube, using a pair of wrenches. Remove the shift cable with pliers, and position it out of the way.
Remove the transverse spring, which is part of the rear suspension, using a ratchet and socket. Disconnect the outer tire rod ends and lower shock absorber bolts. Remove the lower ball joints form the steering knuckles by removing the end nuts with a wrench. Place a support under the transmission.
Unbolt the rear member and cross member from the transmission and suspension, using an air impact wrench and appropriate metric sockets.
Separate the left and right half shafts from the differential, if required, using a flat-head screwdriver to gently pry them away from the differential. Support the half shafts using sturdy wire connected to the undercarriage of the car.
Lower the drive train slightly. Remove all the electrical connections by hand, or with assistance from a small flat-head screwdriver if necessary.
Lower the drive train until the oil cooler lines are exposed. Disconnect the oil cooler lines with a flared line wrench. Remove the five bolts from the drive line to the flywheel housing, using a socket and extension with the ratchet.
Pry the drive line from the engine with a large flat-head screwdriver, and lower the drive line to the ground.
Remove the remaining bolts holding the differential to the transmission, using metric wrenches.
Pry the differential apart from the transmission carefully, working around the circumference of the transmission. If necessary, use the large flat-head screwdriver to carefully separate the two units.
