Technical Removing rear engine mount - Mk1 Punto 1108

[puntoNBZ]

Hello,

First post here. I'm trying to replace the clutch on a 1995 Punto 55 S, 1108cc FIRE engine.

Using both the Haynes manual and FIAT TIS CD I've got it pretty well stripped down. However, I'm having bother removing the rear engine/gearbox mount.

Hopefully the following will make sense to someone with more FIAT experience than me!

I have removed the three bolts on the corners of the triangular plate holding the engine mount to the floorpan, and removed the nuts on the large bolts holding the engine mount to the gearbox. There isn't enough space to remove one of the big bolts totally.

Although the whole assembly is very loose, the mounting seems reluctant to pop out of the floor panel. What I need to know is: Do I have to remove the bolt in the centre of the rubber bush part of the mount? It looks and feels like this simply holds the bush in the mounting, but is it actually fixed to something in the car?

That might be a big vague - if it's not clear, drop me a PM or post on here and I'll try to elaborate. Basically, do I need to remove 5 bolts or 6 bolts to successfully remove the rear engine/gearbox mounting?

Thanks in advance,
Gavin

 

[dave]

i usually only remove that middle bolt, and leave the other end bolted to the box

 

[puntoNBZ]

Cheers Dave. So I should put the big bolts back into the gearbox, put the three bolts into the floorpan and remove the one in the middle of the bush? Sounds a lot handier!

Thanks very much.

 

[dave]

yep unless the big bolt is seized, then thats a diffrent story, btw its 18mm