Engine out...

So with my good mate Nick, we rolled the car forward and positioned the car half in, half out of the garage. Then we roped the engine up to the hoist hook and lifted the weight off the engine mounts.

Removing two bolts from the left side mount and the nut from the sump mount we started lifting checking it cleared the front panel. Without the gearbox it was a straight lift and push the car back in the garage.

Lowering the engine onto my trolley with blocks for support, as we were manoeuvring the engine around the rope broke dropping the engine a couple of inches – after checking we both still had all our finger we laughed and said that was lucky it wasn't still up in the air!

Speaking to my father later he told me the rope which we had used before must be over 30 years old, time for a new one I think.

Once repositioned on the blocks we pushed the trolley in the garage using Nick's surf board to bridge the gap, he uses it when working under his VW camper van.

2.30 hrs

Engine hoist borrowed...

Thanks to Pete from my local Thames Valley TR Register Club I've borrowed an engine hoist, drove over to Pete's before Christmas to pick it up and have a look at his TR6 project - looking very good!

Manage to fit the hoist in the back of my Honda estate by removing the legs kept in place by pins.

Reassemble and ready for the lift out, loosened off the engine mounts and placed the rope through the lifting eyes on the block.

Head height in my garage will be an issue also the soft ground outside - I think the best option will be to have the car half way out, lift the engine and roll the car back in then lower on to my trolley.

3hrs

Gearbox assembled...

On the first day of December I'm in the garage and it's only 3 degrees outside. With the parts ready I started by bolted on the top cover, side bracket and rear mounted plate. Using a couple of bolts at the top I positioned the bellhousing to ensure the three spring where in place and inserted the rest.

Then I fitted the release bearing with the arm assembly in place, all it needs now is oil.

1hr

Gearbox paint job...

So with all the parts cleaned and degreased I gave the top cover, release bearing assembly and mounting brackets a coat of premier followed by black gloss. Masked off and cover the gearbox and repeated the process.

On the bellhousing the front end cover oil seal needed replacing, using a screw driver I lifted out the old one.  With drop oil around the new seal and large socket I pushed it in to place.

With new gaskets and allowing the parts a few days to dry in this colder weather, I can reassemble and store away in the loft - made myself gearbox stand too, very posh!

4hrs

Bellhousing ringing...

Started by removing the release bearing assembly and bearing, then seven bolts being careful to catch the three compression spring inserted in the casting.

Cleaned off the old gaskets and given the bellhousing a first clean inside and out, also striped off the brackets from the rear of the gearbox for clean/painting.

2 hrs

Gearbox opened...

As with most of the other parts if its not broken then just clean, inspect, paint and put it away until its needed for refitting.

I never had any issues with gearbox so an easy fix. Drained the oil which looked a nice colour (not black), found some very some metal fragments around the magnetic drain plug - to be expected after 78,500 miles. Removed the top cover to inspect and have a look around - first time for me.

Bellhousing to come off next, but with the nights closing in thats for another day.

Need to order some gaskets.

1 hr