Clutch replacement

[maffey]

Hi guys, looking at replacing my clutch and rear crank seal, as I have an oil leak where gearbox meets block.
Can anyone provide any info how difficult this is going to be on my 1990 S3. Looking at doing in own garage on normal ramps. Cheers

[phillpot]

PH is your friend, loads of advice and info.

[GreenV8S]

maffey said:

I have an oil leak where gearbox meets block.

The gearbox doesn't usually meet the block. Don't you have a bell housing in between?

[maffey]

Yes I know it has a bell housing, the leak is between gearbox and block. So either a front gearbox seal or rear crank seal, leak.
I haven't removed gearbox from the car before, looking for advice on haw difficult it is and can it be done without removing the engine. And if can be done on normal ramps in own garage.
.

[phillpot]

The short answer is yes. The gearbox will come out from underneath but there are a few "tricks well explained on pistonheads.

[maffey]

Thank you for the link, i have just looked at that, can it be done without removing the diff

[phillpot]

maffey said:

Thank you for the link, i have just looked at that, can it be done without removing the diff

Yes, take the two big bolts out that hold up the front of the diff, the front will drop enough to slide the propshaft back far enough for it to pull out of the gearbox.

Did you find this one ?

There are more, explaining left hand rocker cover off, dizzy cap off (or remove dizzy completely), the engine needs to lean back a long way it is probably best to remove top hose rather than strain anything? And you'll need the car nice and high, normal ramps may not be enough? And a decent trolley jack under the sump to support the engine. And ........

Now I have an engine crane I I would seriously consider pulling the engine rather than drop the gearbox if I had a clutch to do


Finally, your oil leak? Could it be any of the following allowing oil to run down the back of the engine..

A. a rocker cover gasket

B. the O ring on the distributor shaft

C. the inlet manifild gasket

B or C would leave an oily puddle where the distributor clamp is fitted

[maffey]

cheer for the info, i have checked most of what you have pointed out and the leak is definatly from inside the bell housing, unfortunatley.
Now just got to get around to doing it, i have a engine crane so just now have to decide engine out or in ???????????

[maffey]

cheer for the info, i have checked most of what you have pointed out and the leak is definatly from inside the bell housing, unfortunatley.
Now just got to get around to doing it, i have a engine crane so just now have to decide engine out or in ???????????

[NeilS3]

maffey said:

cheer for the info, i have checked most of what you have pointed out and the leak is definatly from inside the bell housing, unfortunatley.
Now just got to get around to doing it, i have a engine crane so just now have to decide engine out or in ???????????

I'm not a mechanic only done basic DIY tasks on my 'S' plus other previous classics but have changed the clutch on my S3. I removed the engine & box as one unit as once out everything is exposed to renew/clean/repaint etc etc... Looks a new car now.

[Kitchski]

I'd go engine out, even if I was at home. It's so much of a faff doing it with the engine in that it's effectively a non-starter IMO. I doubt you'd save much effort, and you have to grind bits off the gearbox. Take the whole lot out, and refresh other tired bits while you're there.