Prop. shaft

[craig-A]

Some help please?

in the mids of an engine swap on my mx5, so far I have been unable to remove the prop shaft to diff bolts, I think the issue is there is just too much movement in the diff, as it try to loosen the bolt the diff/shaft slowly start to turn.

So to my question, at the gearbox end, it looks like a splined shaft into the gearbox, will the shaft simply pull out when the engine and box are removed, meaning i wont have to remove the diff bolts?

Before anyone asks, the car is in gear with the handbrake on, even with all this there is still some 'bounce' at the diff, meaning a loss of energy when i try to loosen the bolts.

Thanks in advance.

Craig

[anonymous-user]

On a mk1 (and I assume the same on others) the prop can be left attached at the diff when removing or replacing the engine and gearbox as a unit as its just as you say splined and slides into the gearbox. Just be careful not to let it fall out and hit the floor.

I've done it a few times and had no issues apart from getting the prop back into the gearbox end with nobody to help, I managed it in the end by using a piece of rope through the tunnel top to support the gearbox tail (and a lot of swearing), but with 2 people it's pretty simple.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 28th August 13:33

[craig-A]

JimSuperSix said:

On a mk1 (and I assume the same on others) the prop can be left attached at the diff when removing or replacing the engine and gearbox as a unit as its just as you say splined and slides into the gearbox. Just be careful not to let it fall out and hit the floor.

I've done it a few times and had no issues apart from getting the prop back into the gearbox end with nobody to help, I managed it in the end by using a piece of rope through the tunnel top to support the gearbox tail (and a lot of swearing), but with 2 people it's pretty simple.

Great, many thanks.

[anonymous-user]

Also IIRC a lot of oil will pour out once the propshaft has come out, so you need catch it. I tied a plastic bag right around the gearbox tail so that any oil would not pour out all over the engine bay / floor as the engine/box needs quite a tilt on it to clear the radiator / front slam panel.

[MG CHRIS]

JimSuperSix said:

Also IIRC a lot of oil will pour out once the propshaft has come out, so you need catch it. I tied a plastic bag right around the gearbox tail so that any oil would not pour out all over the engine bay / floor as the engine/box needs quite a tilt on it to clear the radiator / front slam panel.

Or you could undo the drain plug and empty the box oil into a container to not make a mess.

[anonymous-user]

MG CHRIS said:

JimSuperSix said:

Also IIRC a lot of oil will pour out once the propshaft has come out, so you need catch it. I tied a plastic bag right around the gearbox tail so that any oil would not pour out all over the engine bay / floor as the engine/box needs quite a tilt on it to clear the radiator / front slam panel.

Or you could undo the drain plug and empty the box oil into a container to not make a mess.

Assuming you can get to the drain plug and manage to undo it , yes. Last time I removed the engine from my mk1 I just couldn't get the drain plug to undo with the front of the car on ramps or axle stands and almost no space to work in.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 4th September 10:33