I have a 97 civicEX with aD16 motor and 183,xxx miles. I have oil all over underneath my car and its coming from in between the motor and trans. I am just wondering how hard this job is? Can I pull the trans out by hand or do I need some type of lift? I have done a search but did not come up with everything I need to know, any help would be great.

 

well would be BEST if you had a engine hoist.. BUT it can be done with 2 jacks and some lumbar.

remove the axless, wires on the tranny.
put block of wood under oil pan on a jack and very VERLY put the jack on it.... ya dont want to bend the oilpan.

then put another jack and piece of wood under the tranny and then remove all the mounts and engine/tranny bolts...
can be done tho but would be easier with a friend or engine hoise to strap to the tranny...

and to get to the rear main you need SPECIAL sockets for the flywheel and if its a manual for the pressure plate as well. cause a normal 6 sided socket wont take the bolts out without striping them.. you need a 12sided sockets! and they are different sizes for the flywheel and pressure plate. id have to go check what sizes to be sure... then pulling the rear main and replacing it is realy easy!
then just reassemble and torque down the bolts to specs..

 

Would you recommend doing anything else to the car while i have it apart like that? Off the top of my head I'm going to get a new clutch and axels.

 

i would do a new clutch, throw out bearing and resurface your flywheel

 

Out of curiosity, are you going to get a hoist or are you going to use the 2 jacks method? It'd be interesting to see some pics if it's the latter.

 

I'm looking into aengine hoistbut if that does not work out then i'll get some pics and post them.