Another Clutch install 01-24-2009

[Flyin96M]

OK I've done way too many of these so I'll offer up some suggestions:
- Try to power wash the undercarriage around the trans as much as possible.
- Use a short bungee chord and wrap it around your strut bar and to some point on the front of the motor. This will keep the motor from falling forward when you remove the trans.
- Bring lots of extensions, a few swivel joints and a breaker bar
- remember to mark the drive shaft location so you can properly reinstall it
- use a large socket and short extension to plug the tail shaft seal to keep fluid from leaking out.
- Find an extra pressure plate an have it re-surfaced prior to starting the work. This will prevent any down time while waiting on the machine shop.
- Clutch alignment tool - you should have one, but make sure it fits
- Replace ALL the seals inside the bell housing. There are a few behind the nose cone that the throwout bearing rides on.
- I would buy a few cans of brake parts cleaner and lots of shop towels
- Make sure the trans is in gear before trying to put it back in. This will help you align the input shaft to the clutch.
- Don't let anyone find the beer BEFORE the job is finished
- If I were Titus I would put a swear jar in my shop for just this one day

If all goes well it should take 3-4 hours if not then BR may be spending the night.

[Darron65]

We used a regular jack when we did Bean's. You'll need two high lift jacks (one to raise the engine, one to support the tranny), and some rope - something you would trust to support a 100-lb weight suspended above your head.

C'mon the tranny can't weigh that much. I changed the clutch in my little Mitsu truck a few years back; that trans was only 30 lbs or so. Easy enough to handle by hand. Even stabbing it back in is easy if you use the line-up tool (should come with the clutch).

[black roadster]

OK I've done way too many of these so I'll offer up some suggestions: yadda yadda yadda

Thanks Justin.

C'mon the tranny can't weigh that much. I changed the clutch in my little Mitsu truck a few years back; that trans was only 30 lbs or so. Easy enough to handle by hand. Even stabbing it back in is easy if you use the line-up tool (should come with the clutch).

I heard the transmission is 75 lbs.

[sammm]

C'mon the tranny can't weigh that much.

Laying on a cold garage floor, under a Miata, it feels heavier than something I want to fall on my head.

[juxt3r]

No voluntold work on the 24th. Barring change to this, I'm in.

While I don't have a scale handy, I'd put the 5-speed at 50lbs or less.

[trickyrix]

The more the merrier, right? Count me in...

I'd say the tranny weighs 50-75 lbs based on my RX-7 tranny swap experience.

[Titus]

I'd like to move this to Sunday if at all possible.... William... does that work for you?

[driftdevil]

I'm out if it's sunday. Gotta work.

[black roadster]

I'd like to move this to Sunday if at all possible.... William... does that work for you?

I'll call you. Worried about running out of time. I'd like to have the extra day for unexpected issues.

[juxt3r]

Worried about running out of time. I'd like to have the extra day for unexpected issues.

Wise. Very wise.

[Titus]

BR and I talked, and we are going to stick with Saturday.

By the way William.. I do have a power washer.


As for the swear/donation jar, it will be present Saturday and all future tech days I host, and all proceeds will go to additional tools for the shop. I have a white board in the shop that I invite all to write down tools that you feel I should add to the shop collection.

[black roadster]

Picked up all the parts from Trackdog yesterday!

It'll be cold. I hope Titus has a space heater.

[Titus]

Picked up all the parts from Trackdog yesterday!

It'll be cold. I hope Titus has a space heater.

It does look like it will be cold this weekend, and no, I do not have a space heater out there yet. Can someone bring one with them?

[HudsonHawk]

So does the shop face north?
Don't have a space heater but I do have a set of 500W halogen worklights that do a good job of heating up my garage.

BTW Titus PM me directions or at least an address just in-case I can make it. And I promise no more engineer jokes.

[sammm]

It does look like it will be cold this weekend

Be sure you have some big pieces of cardboard or drywall (don't ask) to lay on the shop floor.

[Titus]

So does the shop face north?

Garage Door faces South. Winds are forecast to come out of the North northeast.

[Titus]

Be sure you have some big pieces of cardboard or drywall (don't ask) to lay on the shop floor.

Lots of cardboard around.

[Treibenschnell]

I'll bring you a towel...

[trickyrix]

Garage Door faces South. Winds are forecast to come out of the North northeast.

Do you have a 55-gal drum we can burn some trash in for warmth? If so, I'll bring some fingerless hobo gloves and a can of beans for lunch.

[Titus]

I'm told it isn't a necessity. A regular jack and brute strength will suffice.

If you change your mind about how you want to go about jacking your tranny, I found THIS and THIS that could combine to help some.