bell housing removal - does the starter have to come out?

[lwt]

I am still working on changing the clutch on my 450, and now have the gearbox out (thanks to all who advised on removing the top cover, way to go). I have all the bell housing bolts out but it does not want to move on the side where the starter motor is. I don't see why the starter motor should bolt into the bell housing but with TVR you never know! (for example, who would expect the gear lever linkage to wrap around the chassis tubes?). I have seen one picture of the flywheel that shows the starter in-situ, but if anyone can give me a definitive answer before I start again tomorrow that would be great. I really don't want to take the starter off as that means disconnecting the battery then taking off a custom stainless exhaust pipe which in turn means disconnecting a Lambda sensor that I can barely see let alone reach...)

Ian.

[locodude]

From what I remember I don't think I took the starter motor off when I changed my clutch. The bellhousing is pegged though so it may be one of these that is sticking a little. A little penetrating oil and a few sharp cracks with a soft faced hammer should do it.

[lwt]

Thanks, thats what I hoped. On the photo I saw a dowel near there so its probably that.

Ian.

[BoostedChim]

No you can leave the starter in. I used a rubber mallet to pursuade my bellhousing. Theres a 12mm dowel on either side, one is attached to the bellhousing one on engine.

[phazed]

Shirley the starter bolts locate in the bell housing in the two holes indicated in the picture above.

[NZ fan]

phazed said:

Shirley the starter bolts locate in the bell housing in the two holes indicated in the picture above.

It certainly does appear that way but the starter actually bolts to a cast lug on the block. (Photo not so clear but you can see the bolt arrangement.)

[Pink_Floyd]

The starter is bolted to the block, so you should be able to remove the bellhousing without removing the starter.