Hi there,

In about two weeks I will be taking my gearbox out to replace the clutch and do a couple of other things (CCS). I've just been studying two different manuals and I have some questions:

1. Is it really necessary to undo the exhaust pipe. From the looks of it it should be possible to take the box out without touching the exhaust?

2. Is there any other way to disconnect the gear linkage than removing the balljoint from the box?

Cheers,

Woj

Forget the second question, I just had a look inside the bay and it seems there is no way around it... /Woj

You wont go near the exhaust to drop the box.

Ignore Haynes. Leave the starter where it is too.. You dont need to remove wheel arch liners. Just the inner liner on N/S.

Haynes go so over the top for nowt..

mr500 said:

You wont go near the exhaust to drop the box.

Ignore Haynes.

Click to expand...

So I thought, problem is that I have 3 manuals in total, 1 Haynes and two Polish ones, and they all say to drop the exhaust pipe, so that made me think...

Leave the starter where it is too..

Click to expand...

That's a good tip, one less problem, thanks.

You dont need to remove wheel arch liners. Just the inner liner on N/S.

Click to expand...

That I figured out already.

Thanks,

Woj

I've not tried this on a cinq, last time I changed the clutch the engine and box were out the car, but

On Escorts we used to leave the shafts in place and undo the inner lower wishbone mounts. There was enough movement in the struts to allow the box to be moved away from the engine then swung down underneath it allowing access to the clutch.

Cheers

D

Thanks for the tip rallycinq, however I'd rather not undo the arms again, inner mounts or otherwise. Besides, we will have to look into the box itself, as there is some suspect behaviour. My brother says he knows what to look for, so I trust him (I saw him taking out Fiat126 box ripping it aparat all the way to small pieces and putting it back together, all in one day). My job is to work out the way to take the box out

Cheers,

Woj

No probs, with the Escort/Orion box, if you took the shafts out there was a danger that the sun gears would fall out of the diff if the box was dropped. I perfected the way of doing it so I would never get into that problem.

Cheers

D

I think the reason for removing the exhaust (downpipe with cat) is to help prevent possible damage to it (mainly the flexi joint) as you move the engine around trying to get gearbox on/off. It will only be held in with one mount and whatever other means off support.

Last time I didn't take the exhaust of.

Clear al wires and cables.
One driveshaft on the gearbox site. (or if you want both shafts.)
Losen the rear gearbox bracket,
Place something under the engine to lift it up. (Hydraulic garage jack)
And now turn out the front bolds.

After that turn the gearbox bolds out. Support the gearbox and give it a pull. Than it falls of.