Engine Removal - Seperation from Auto Gearbox

[imebgo]

Hi,

Im removing my engine in a week or so to start converting to a single turbo (may be sending off for porting too!)

Im not worried too much about the procedure, except I dont really have any idea about how the torque converter is connected to the flywheel, and how to disconnect it.  I think that might be easier than removing both gearbox and engine.

Anything else I bear in mind when seperating the gearbox from the engine?

Thanks,

James

[Spartacus]

Once you undo all the bolts around the perimeter of the bell housing the gear box will come off but you need it all lined up perfectly straight for it to slide off. You can then undo about 5 or 6 small bolts holding the torque converter to the flywheel. The manual says to use a special tool through the small inspection cover underneath to do this before you remove the gearbox but I never did on mine and I don’t think they would have come off too easy even if I had the special tool. Take it out as one unit then separate I didn’t have too much trouble when I did it.

Have fun
Oh, expect lots of oil on the floor:chat

[imebgo]

Ok, I thik im following what your suggested

So, i need to remove the gearbox and engine in 1 go then remove the bell housing nuts which will enable the gearbox to come off the engine, but this will leave the torque converter on the flywheel

OR

remove the bell housing bolts and the ones visible through inspection plate to seperate the torque converter of the flywheel which will allow seperation of gearbox and engine whilst still in the car?

As for the oil, are you talking about plenty of oil coming off the engine becuase of removed oil pipes etc.. or will it leak ATF fluid too, out of the torque converter?

Thanks,

[Spartacus]

You are right with option 1; I think that would be the easiest. I took all the bell housing bolts off first but couldn\'t separate the gearbox from the engine, so I thought it must have been due to the torque converter bolts. But as it turned out when I had the engine and box out, the gearbox did come off without undoing the torque converter bolts first. I was just lucky it didn’t come off on its way out of the car. As for the oil, a lot will come out of the rear of the gearbox once you disconnect the prop shaft and even more once you raise the engine. Get lots of buckets and plastic sheeting.
BTW the gearbox is heavy!

You could try sliding the engine off of the gearbox with it in the car but I didn’t manage to do it but then again I wasn’t sure that it would come off without undoing the torque converter bolts first. If you keep everything at the right angle you might do it. If you can’t, make sure you put back in a few bell housing bolts before lifting the engine and box out.
Have I made any sense?

[imebgo]

Im following you.

ill attempt to slide the gearbox of the engine and torque conveter first, if I dont get anywhere Ill reconnect and pull it out all at once.

IM guessing the gearbox mounts will be sufficient to hold it in place if I left it in without it being connected to the engine?

Thanks!

[Spartacus]

Gearbox mounts? What gearbox mounts? The gearbox is held by the engine and differential via the ppf. You will need to support the gearbox when the engine is pulled.

[imebgo]

Hmm, ok, i thought I read that somewhere too, might be better taking it all out then just so I can move the car if I need to!

[Spartacus]

If you do take just the engine out you could always support the gearbox from the top with some rope and a length of 4x2 across the suspension turrets. That way you could still move it around.

[imebgo]

Success, engine came out with the gearbox, I have separated and removed the torque converter and drvie wheel.  Now I am left with the counterweight and and im a bit lost on how to stop the counterweight without the SST?

Any quality nuggets of advice you could give me with this one?

Cheers,

James

[philiwily]

Hi James that 54mm nut comes off realy easy with an air gun, you might be quicker taking to a garage to zap off than making a SST. Are you converting to a manual?
Phil.

[imebgo]

I may see if I can get hold of an air gun then to remove it.

Im not converting to manual, just porting and rebuilding the engine

Cheers,

James

[philiwily]

I could be wrong but do you not lose a lot of driveability going single on an auto as they prefer lower down torque. If you know that its okay just ignore me otherwise you might be better asking who else has done it.
 
Cheers Phil.

[imebgo]

Im hoping it will be ok if I can get the turbo to spool up quick enough also chaning to 4.30 gear might also improve drivability.

If its totally undrivable (which im sure it wont be) its back to the drawing board, lol

J