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MG TD TF 1500 - Gearbox re-install question

Making a long story short... I had to remove the gearbox with the engine still in the car. I did not remove the floorboards as outlined in the WSM. My question is... can the gearbox go back in with the floor boards in place. It looks like it might, if I can get the the gearbox on an angle and rotate once the input shaft is in place.

Before I try I thought i would ask.
... CR
C.R. Tyrell

C.R., the transmission tunnel is all that needs to be out if you pulled it out without pulling the engine. I presume the engine is supported to keep it level. change the input shaft bushing in the crank, inspect you clutch, disc, and flywheel as well. use an alignment tool to get the disc center, put the trans in high gear and stuff it back into place.

Cheers

Bill Chasser jr
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

CR - "can the gearbox go back in with the floor boards in place"

I think that this is in the category of ultimately doing more fussing than it would take to remove the floor boards to start with. You will also greatly increase the chance of bending the first motion shaft in the gear box. Even with the floor boards out, you should put two long studs (think manifold studs in the the upper two bolt holes in the engine to hang the gear box while getting the first motion shaft situated to where it will slide into place easily. Cheers - Dave
D.W. DuBois

Stud threads? 6x1mm? If they are I can make some rods as I do not have any spare studs. I am working alone to do this... so I may have to enlist some help with this one.
... CR
C.R. Tyrell

Studs to help guide the bellhousing onto the engine are 8X1 metric. I bought two 8X1 grade 5 bolts at the hardware store. About an inch of thread and a long unthreaded shoulder. Cut off the head to make studs.

I'm the new-kid-on-the-block when it comes to gearboxes. I've removed mine from my TF twice since January and installed it once (it's currently still out of the car.) I removed everything in the cockpit ... steering wheel, seats, carpet, floorboards, floorboard supports, tunnel, cover, and driveshaft. Piece of cake. It may be newbee over-kill, but I had plenty of room between the frame rails to stumble around to remove and reinstall the gearbox. I'll do it this way again if I have to remove it a third time.

One person under the car guiding the gearbox and one person inside holding the gearbox and pushing it into the engine. Remove the oval inspection cover in the bellhousing. Use the hole as a hand grip to hold the gearbox as it is removed or installed.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

8x1mm. Thanks Good idea on the inspection cover.
C.R. Tyrell

Another PLUS for removing the floorboards and floorboard support brackerts is that you can attach the rear mount bracket, rubber cushions, fork, cupped washer, and nut to the gearbox while it is out of the car. You won't need to fiddle with aligning the fork into the hole in the mounting bracket while installing the gearbox. Just bolt the bracket to the cross member after the gearbox is in place.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

C.R., here's a look at the gearbox sliding in on the studs. Bud



Bud Krueger

100% agree with Dave ..pulling the floorboards is less fuss than the work-around you are considering. Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Before you reinstall the Gear Box.
Make sure you check the bushing in the end of the crank, where the first motion shaft fits - now would be the perfect time to replace it - if it is not pristine.
If you removed the clutch housing (And now would be the right time to check the clutch Assy as well) Save yourself a load of stress and use the clutch alignment tool to get the clutch plate in the right place before offering up the Gearbox to the engine.
Make the job a synch - instead of a hernia.

Rod






R. D. Jones

The only broken bone I've had in 70 summers is the first phalange of the middle finger on my right hand caused by dropping the transmission for my '52 Plymouth (first car - $151) on it after installing a new clutch plate because I (then 15) didn't know about clutch aligning tools. Simple, cheap and saves a lot of stress. Jud
J K Chapin

No problem with the pilot bushing or clutch alignment, or clutch. I have all that "stuff", and the clutch, and pilot is all new. The only reason that the trans came out after re-installing the engine was an issue with 3rd gear, which has now been fixed.

I will start taking out the floors tomorrow.
...CR
C.R. Tyrell

This thread was discussed between 17/05/2015 and 18/05/2015

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