Transmission and Engine

January 10-12, 2014 -

  I got the clutch fork and its bearing during the week so Friday I put it all together and tried putting the transmission on by myself.  I got pretty close but not all the way and was really tiring myself out.  With Saturday being a rainy day I had the good fortune to have my friend Dave come over and help out for a couple hours.  After both of us trying to put the transmission on the engine (but this time with the bell housing attached to the transmission and not attached to the engine) we took a break and realized that the clutch just is centered enough.  (Some experts on youtube are seemingly able to eyeball it but we just weren't that good.)  We looked around for a clutch alignment tool until Dave (though he gives Whiskey credit for this idea) said we should use the transmission as the alignment tool by putting it in without the bell housing and clutch fork and the pressure plate nice and loose.  Then with the transmission in and everything aligned, tighten the pressure plate, pull the transmission out, put the bell housing and clutch fork and clutch fork bearing on, and then reinstall the transmission.  That worked! (Watch out for the clutch fork slipping off the pivot bolt head when you are handling the bell housing.)  Here it is:

  Then Dave and I started hoisting this into the car!  We ended up having to use some rope to pull the transmission down to get a steeper angle, and moved the car (with the front wheels on wheel dollies) forward to get it into position as that was easier than rolling the lift around.

  Maybe three people should have been involved in that job but we did all right.  I did find the bolt that had to be removed that interfered somewhat with the steering shaft.  I ran out of time and had to pick the job up Sunday with help from my Dad. With my Dad on Sunday we tightened down the transmission mount point, and tightened the engine bracket bolts to the frame. Here it is in the car:

  Dad helped me breakdown the engine lift and store it away.  Now I have a lot more room in my garage and this is really looking like a car!  Much thanks to Dave and my Dad!