Tim _________________________ Tim Beloney VAR Development Manager Wyse Technology tbeloney(at)wyse.com <mailto:tbeloney(at)wyse.com> 510.749.9432 (phone) 510.714.2067 (cell/pgr)
-----Original Message----- From: Robert Bailey [mailto:RBailey(at)doa.state.la.us] Sent: Friday, December 11, 1998 10:13 AM To: alpines(at)autox.team.net Subject: RE: Tranny Removal
Jay has stated the case very well, but I can't resist a comment or three.
I agree with Jay that you should just pull the engine. I have removed my transmission three times. It is, by far, my least favorite thing to do on my Alpine. I try not to abuse my clutch solely to avoid having to change it.
The first time I did it was after I cut right through the backing plate of the clutch release bearing. I pulled the transmission just as the book told me to. The directions were just fine. There was very little room to maneuver and it was dark. The problem is that with the car a couple of feet off the ground, there is no way to get any leverage on the transmission. It is all arm strength. Not one of my strong points. I was so exhausted I put the disk in backwards. Discovering it, after two days of work, after everything was all buttoned up.
The next weekend, I asked a friend to help me switch the disk around. We rented time on a lift and sent the Alpine six feet up. It took about a hour to pull it, switch it and button it.
The last time I did it I used a floor jack and a block of wood to help me drop the transmission down and lift it back up. It is a tough balancing act! I also discovered that I had to remove the carb, intake manifold and stainless steel header. The header is one piece and you can't separate it at the flange like the cast-iron manifold to remove the starter.
Unless you have a lift, and plenty of help, PULL THE ENGINE!
Robert Bailey Sr. V.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jay Laifman [SMTP:Jay_Laifman(at)countrywide.com]
> Sent: Friday, December 11, 1998 10:22 AM
> To: alpines(at)autox.team.net
> Subject: Tranny Removal
>
>
>
>
> A couple of years ago, I asked the same questions and did
remove the
> transmission without pulling the engine. If I were to do
it again, I'd
> just pull the dang engine. The only good thing about not
pulling the
> engine was that I did not need an engine hoist. On the
other hand, by the
> time you finish loosening or taking off everything you
have to take off to
> allow the engine to rotate back, you are pretty much ready
to pull the
> engine (see below). MOST IMPORTANTLY, I had one bitch of
a time balancing
> the engine and the transmission both to pull back the
transmission and
> then
> to try to line it up to put it back on without damaging
the first motion
> shaft. And, I was very unhappy about how problematic it
was to support
> the
> dangling engine and transmission.
>
> After doing everything to rotate the engine, this is all
that is left to
> go
> all the way and pull the engine: disconnect (1) the oil
cooler, if fitted,
> (2) the oil pressure guage line, (3) the fuel line and (4)
the wires to
> the
> alternator. Less than 5 minutes of time, yet it save you
all sorts of
> grunts and snorts in dealing with a very heavy, oily
transmission on a
> strange angle.
>
> Now, if you insist on avoiding pulling the engine (as I
did) here are a
> few
> other suggestions I got (and did) when I asked: (1) remove
the radiator or
> take off the fan so that the fan does not rotate into the
radiator, (2) if
> you just take off the fan, remove the hoses to the
radiator because they
> WILL stop the engine from rotating enough, (3) disconnect
the throttle
> mechanism (unless you have a cable set up), (4) loosen the
front motor
> mounts so that all the twist does not come at the expense
of the rubber
> (let it screw up the threads instead - ie a lose-lose
situation), and (5)
> I
> found I had to remove the valve cover to get enough
rotation for the
> tranny
> to clear.
>
> Also, be very careful on supporting the rear of the
engine. I'm not sure
> what to suggest. The rear of the oil pan is angled, so
you really can't
> get a good spot for full support. And be darn sure you
clean off any oil
> so that whatever you use doesn't just slip right off.
>
> Now, are you sure you don't want to just pull the engine?
Even now it
> sure sounds "easier" to not pull the engine. But, as I
said, I think I'll
> pull the engine next time.
>
> Jay
>