Changing clutch. Tips/tricks?

So I've had this pinging noise in my '95 C1500 daily driver lately. I've diagonsed it as a failing clutch (other issues point the same direction), so that's my job for today. Nichols gives me 3.7 hours to do the job--I figure it will take me eight, on the floor of my cold garage. I need to remember to fill my fuel oil can for my heater.

I'm buying the clutch from Pep, as they carry LuK, who is the OE manufacturer of my clutch, and most of the other brands carry Chinese knock-offs, which often are junk. I'm having Pep price match Advance's price, and I'm also going to use a $10 off coupon from Pep's website. The clutch set should cost me less than $100 out the door. I also bought a new flywheel and output shaft seal.

I also bought a Harbor Freight trans adapter for my jack (but I forgot to use the GRM %20 coupon for that-doh!).

During the last clutch job, I added a greasable fork pivot ball, which required drilling a hole in the boss where Muncie Trans (New Venture Gear) decided in 1995 to remove the zerk to save a few cents. At that time (75K ago, I think), I installed a new fork, too.

So does anybody have any tricks or tips to make this job faster and easier? Sure, a lift would be nice, but that's out of the question right now. The air tools are oiled up and the compressor is full. I have tall jackstands, which should also help. And a Bone creeper. Anything else?

A pony keg and a couple of buddies?

Rza wrote: A pony keg and a couple of buddies?

x2. Trying to wrestle a transmission alone sucks. You get them up there with the jack, but they all seem to need a good wrestling before they'll mate up.

and bandaids....

Beer + Buddies.... only way

Number 1 tech tip: Open the beer after it's back together.

Make sure it's light beer (if drinking during the process). Heineken has a nasty habit of making things crossthread.

I would NOT suggest Molson XXX. Just sayin'.

I did a 260Z clutch job in the apartment complex parking lot. By myself, with a cheesy floor jack. OK, I was only 35 when that happened, but I learned valuable lessons- like don't ever try that again. There was much beer applied after the fact. Since then I have generally been a spectator for that job.