Clutch fitting

[trickjohn]

Hi all,

As I am doing a body off restoration, I will check the clutch before putting the engine back in - I noted on a thread somewhere that someone had cut a piece on their chassis out and replaced something with a bolt on part - but I am buggered if I can find the thread - I want to do the same on mine - thus avoiding having to remove the engine in the future for a clutch change - does anyone know that is required to do this ?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Best Regards

Sean

[TJC46]

Hi sean i dont know anything about cutting the chassis but the gearbox does come out from under the car quite easily. I had to remove the exhaust, undo and remove the propshaft and gearbox mounting, clutch slave cyl,starter motor, undo the reversing light connection and also the speedo connection,its easier if you remove the gearknob it gives you more room to manoeuvre the gearbox and finally the bolts holding the bellhousing/gearbox to the engine. You would have to do this anyway so i dont see why you would consider cutting a piece of the chassis. Would this not weaken it in someway?

[trickjohn]

Hi TJC46,

Thanks for the reply, I was under the impression from looking at previous threads on clutch changes - that it is an engine out job, if it isnt then I will make no changes to the chassis, there was one thread where they must of cut the gearbox mounting plate and bolted it back - I dont think that this would impact on the chassis overall strengh, however if the gearbox can be removed to change the clutch and not remove the engine then additional work is pointless.

Thanks

Sean

[foxy600]

I had my clutch replaced last year without taking the engine out.
Guglielmi's in Daventry did the job by cutting off the existing gearbox mounts, removing the gearbox, replacing the clutch and then refitted by welding on new mounts.
This means if it needs doing again in the future it will be a lot easier.

[jonnylayze]

I had my clutch changed last year and it is possible to change the clutch from underneath without needing to cut the chassis or remove the engine. It is a VERY tight fit but it can be done once the exhaust has been removed - I'm not sure the guys who did mine would wan to do another one though.....

[Barkychoc]

Sean, its pretty likely the clutch is original - I'd be tempted to fit a new one and not worry about it any more - if it lasts another 15 years or so I think you should be OK