Changing of the clutch ( now with pics)

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Been at it since 1 today, so far i've managed to get the box oil drained, the shafts out, gear linkage off and most of the bolt holding the box on out, having major difficulties with the rear bottom engine mount, still not sure if i've gotten them all out yet or if i've missed anything.

I noticed when I took the gearbox off when I did the TD the bolts that held the starter motor on went through the gearbox, do I need to worry about the starter motor, ie disconnect it? Any hints or pointers on where I should go from here or what I should be doing would be appreciated. I've got a progress pic, i'll post that once i've got it off the camera.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Ok, now i'm completley stuck, got all the bolts off that I can see, supported the engine and box just jacks and bits of wood, but i think the rear engine mount is stopping the box coming off, and I have no idea how to get it off Sad

Help!

Retroholic Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 5685

I'd have to go have a look at mine before i could tell you, the memory is a bit dodgy lately!

Level 8 User Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 278

Rear engine mount -

Either go underneath the car and disconnect the "doggy bone" engine mount .

or

Depending on what car it is you may have enough room to disconnect the diff bracket from the gearbox.

I would favour the first way.

Also there is an easy to miss nut to take off that lives below the starter, make sure that is unscrewed. (You probably should take the starter off to get at it)

Hope this helps.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

The doggy bone mount is the one I can't get off 'i think'

Level 8 User Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 278

It's just held on with a nut and bolt, clean the threads with a wire brush, put WD40 on it and leave it for a while and try again.

Failing thst, use a blow torch to heat the nut and try to turn it. Be careful with the amount of heat that travels into the mount as it has rubber components.

Can you get a socket or ring spanner on it?

If this doesn't cover it why specifically can't you disconnect the mount?

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

theres like two bolts on one end that conects to the gearbox, i've got the nuts off, but cant get the bolts out, same with the other end that connects the to chassis, theres one big bolt that goes through the round rubber thing , i've got that not off, but again not got the bolt out

Level 8 User Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 278

Okay,

Make sure the weight of the engine and gearbox is not resting on the mount.

Turn the bolts to break any seals that have formed. Then get a pinch bar or lump of angle iron and use it as a lever to push the bolts out.

If this doesn't work you may be able to swing a hammer at the doggy bone bolt but put the nut back on so that it is flush with the end of the bolt to minimise damage.

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

yeah the key here is to make sure the bolts arent under any load from the weight of the engine or theres no way they will slide out. Once you have the nuts off the ends of the 2 bolts that hold the bracket thing to the engine, you should be able to tell when theres no load on the bolts, as there will be a slight amount of play. Just a case of jacking the engine up bit by bit till you get it to the right place.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

This is the mount im talking about, im pretty sure this is the only thing holding the box on now, as the front side of it moves slightly

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Right, It worked Smile

Jacked the engine up a lot more than i had it before and theres now play in the bolts, just one more question, once I take that mount off, whats holding the engine up apart from the trolley jack underneath?

Level 8 User Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 278

Two bolts, one of which protrudes from the the gearbox beside the dif, the other from the front of the gearbox into the engine block. This may vary according to the engine and gearbox model.

In addition there is the shaft itself and possibily some insets in either the gearbox bellhousing or the block.

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

how have you managed it so far? did u lower the engine (or start to) with the subframe? ....this job needs a techy!

Level 5 User Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 114

If you got it all off now i suppose your ok for the rest. But i would of done the doggy mount first.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Ok, everything seems to be out, but the box refuses to come off........it's not looking good :S

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Jonnyboy wrote:

how have you managed it so far? did u lower the engine (or start to) with the subframe? ....this job needs a techy!

Nah, Chris H said it could be done without lowering the subframe, so I didnt do that.

Level 8 User Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 278

Check that you havn't missed a bolt or a nut, especially at the back.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Checked about 5 times, looked under and over the top, , stuck my hand down there to see if i could feel anything, but nothing Sad

Level 7 User Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 243

u need to remove the long bolt wich is going thru the mount - subframe. uv removed the nut, but the bolt has to come out. then once the bolt is out, and all the bolts from the box r removed, lever the box up and down and side to side. pull the rear mount metla frame on the box over the mount on the subframe. then slide the box off. ive found lowering the passenger side of the subframe gives more clearence for all that kinda stuff. only a cupla bolts and a trolley jack.

jimbo

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

I've got that long bolt out of the mount, but still no go.. any idea if the buggered clutch could be jamming the box somehow?

Level 7 User Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 243

the starter motor bolts to the gearbox and to the engine, via a supporting bracket. makes sure the starter-engine bolts r removed. u removed the front gearbox mount?

jimbo