S1 - How do you remove the bellhousing from engine
Discussion
Sorry I haven't come in before as I am also an S1 owner.
So now you know the gearbox input shaft can be difficult to get out if you are not pulling it in a straight line!!! Experience comes after you need it!!
These gearboxes are pretty good if the oil has been kept good. Did you have any problems with it before? That couple of mm side movement on the input shaft is usual and nothing to worry about. I took mine into a local transmission expert who knew Ford boxes, it had a far higher mileage than yours (about 120K), it was working fine but I had a leak from the speedo drive. Decided to get it all checked while I was rebuilding the engine. He stripped it and said it was absolutely fine, just changed a gasket, the tail shaft seal and repaired the speedo drive. Under £200 plus new oil. No drip and peace of mind!
Fitted the Richard Kitchen gearlever was well worth it, and fitted a new selector bush at the same time.
Just wanted to point out one small essential. Change the spigot bearing at the end of the crankshaft while the box is off. They are pretty cheap but as they are small and unlubricated they are one of the more likely parts to fail, especially if you have had any clutch vibration.
So now you know the gearbox input shaft can be difficult to get out if you are not pulling it in a straight line!!! Experience comes after you need it!!
These gearboxes are pretty good if the oil has been kept good. Did you have any problems with it before? That couple of mm side movement on the input shaft is usual and nothing to worry about. I took mine into a local transmission expert who knew Ford boxes, it had a far higher mileage than yours (about 120K), it was working fine but I had a leak from the speedo drive. Decided to get it all checked while I was rebuilding the engine. He stripped it and said it was absolutely fine, just changed a gasket, the tail shaft seal and repaired the speedo drive. Under £200 plus new oil. No drip and peace of mind!
Fitted the Richard Kitchen gearlever was well worth it, and fitted a new selector bush at the same time.
Just wanted to point out one small essential. Change the spigot bearing at the end of the crankshaft while the box is off. They are pretty cheap but as they are small and unlubricated they are one of the more likely parts to fail, especially if you have had any clutch vibration.
greymrj said:
Sorry I haven't come in before as I am also an S1 owner.
So now you know the gearbox input shaft can be difficult to get out if you
Thanks for that, The car is in a bit of a sorry state so Ive never ran the engine (luckily looking at the solid waxy stuff in the water ways), and the clutch was solid anyway, it was a bit of a gamble/panic buy/mid life crisis, probably not fit for the breakers yard. Actually never been in a TVR So now you know the gearbox input shaft can be difficult to get out if you
, just always loved them, so here it is, mine ol mine. Had a look in the gearbox, oil in there and all gears looked ok but it no expert, will take it to a local transmission guy who has great reviews, see what he says (hopefully the bearer of good news). I’m going to be breaking the engine down as much as reasonably viable to check everything and clean it all up, it’s not siezed anyway which is a plus, will be dropping the sump and head off and checking replacing whatever needs it.
I’ll change that crank bearing as a minimum then. Thanks for the heads up.
Cheers Lee
Edited by 88S1 on Saturday 13th July 18:46
Good luck Lee, it will be worth it in the end.
If there is still enough oil in the box to drain some into a clear pot (I seem to eat a lot of yogurt these days, but always in clear pots!!) just check it carefully. If it is grey, cloudy, or any bright speckles in bright light then it will probably need work. My guess is that it will be nice and clean. They will last like that for long distances. When you come to refill it check on PH for a thread on gearbox oil, the best choices to use on this box in this application.
A further thought on the spigot bearing. The size of this bearing changed during production of the 2.8, check the diameter of the gearbox input shaft where it fits the bearing, that is the crucial dimension. When you fit it get it flush with the end of the crank, it is easy to press it too far in. The old one can be a bugger to get out and you may finish up chopping it out in bits!
Crank big ends and mains are pretty robust on these engines and easy to re shell. On the last four I have done only one crank was significantly worn. One easy indicator when you have the sump off is to open up the oil pump. It should be nice and clean and shiny. If the pump is scored inside then I am afraid there is certain to be engine wear somewhere. Pray for a clean pump!!
If there is still enough oil in the box to drain some into a clear pot (I seem to eat a lot of yogurt these days, but always in clear pots!!) just check it carefully. If it is grey, cloudy, or any bright speckles in bright light then it will probably need work. My guess is that it will be nice and clean. They will last like that for long distances. When you come to refill it check on PH for a thread on gearbox oil, the best choices to use on this box in this application.
A further thought on the spigot bearing. The size of this bearing changed during production of the 2.8, check the diameter of the gearbox input shaft where it fits the bearing, that is the crucial dimension. When you fit it get it flush with the end of the crank, it is easy to press it too far in. The old one can be a bugger to get out and you may finish up chopping it out in bits!
Crank big ends and mains are pretty robust on these engines and easy to re shell. On the last four I have done only one crank was significantly worn. One easy indicator when you have the sump off is to open up the oil pump. It should be nice and clean and shiny. If the pump is scored inside then I am afraid there is certain to be engine wear somewhere. Pray for a clean pump!!
greymrj said:
The old one can be a bugger to get out and you may finish up chopping it out in bits!
Piece of cake ..................... bearing extractorphillpot said:
greymrj said:
The old one can be a bugger to get out and you may finish up chopping it out in bits!
Piece of cake ..................... bearing extractorGassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff