Engine out under or over

[73sprint]

Hello all. I have to put a new clutch kit in my Sprint. The garage has suggested to do this by dropping it all out on the subframe. Please anybody that has done it this way, is it straight forward ? Can i undo the exhaust manifold from the head and still get clearence etc. Obviously the prop, gear stick, speedo cable, cross member, all wiring etc, subframe bolts, would have to be dealt with. Brakes ? They reckon it will be quicker this way. Any advice please chaps.

[GlenM]

Take out the front seats, the parcel shelf and the gearbox tunnel, and remove the box from inside the car.

[Carledo]

Beat me to it Glen!

It's far too much work to drop the subframe, just for a clutch, unless you are VERY experienced and have plenty of equipment!

My usual method is to remove the box from underneath, which means lowering the rear of the subframe a tad. But I have a 4 poster ramp and a hydraulic gearbox jack!

Steve

[GlenM]

Beat me to it Glen!

At least 26 years since I did that but I remember it being quite easy. IIRC just a few bolts to access underneath, lower bell-housing etc.

[TrustNo1]

Take out the front seats, the parcel shelf and the gearbox tunnel, and remove the box from inside the car.

Isn't the box longer than the tunnel gap on a sprint?

[Mad Mart]

Take out the front seats, the parcel shelf and the gearbox tunnel, and remove the box from inside the car.

Isn't the box longer than the tunnel gap on a sprint?

Yes. You have to remove it from underneath.

[SprintMWU773V]

I could be wrong but will the bell housing not get in the way of the rear part of the subframe? You'd then have to lower the rear of the frame to get the box out. By the time you've messed around with that it'd be easier to pull the whole thing out through the top surely? If nothing else it's a good opportunity to look at the rear crank oil seal and replace if necessary.

[Mad Mart]

You can't remove it from the top. Apart from being longer than the hole I'm not 100% sure the bellhousing will fit through the hole? I've always removed them from below by loosening the rear sub-frame bolts and lowering the sub-frame just enough to allow the bellhousing to pass.

[Carledo]

The very first Sprint clutch I did, way back in the mists of time, I did on 4 axle stands on the floor in my mum's garage. I did it from below and I didn't drop the subframe cos I didn't know you had to! So it is do-able! Nowadays I Do drop the frame cos it makes life easier!

Don't think i've ever tried to do a Sprint one from inside the car, though i've done OHVs and a couple of 1850s that way. To me, it largely depends on how much stripping is needed and what else needs doing at the time!

Steve

[Robert 352]

I disagree with Steve’s comment that it is far too much work to drop the sub frame, engine and gearbox assembly out to do the clutch.

I do not have a 4 poster ramp nor do I have a hydraulic gearbox jack. All I have is just a few basic hand tools and a chain hoist – and a convenient beam in my garage from which to hang that hoist. There is no way I could contemplate replacing the clutch from underneath the car for I have no way of man handling the gearbox safely.

It takes me at best about 40 minutes to remove the entire sub frame assembly from my car although I allow myself about an hour and a half now so that I can have a cup of tea half way through the process.

The question was asked do you have to remove the exhaust manifold from the head. If you drop it all out on the sub frame you do not have to strip anything off the engine for you disconnect the exhaust where the downpipe is clamped beside the gearbox. And neither do you have to remove anything from the engine bay.

The only thing that I have done to make my life easier is that I have made a dolly to sit the sub frame assembly on for I do not roll the assembly out on the two front wheels.

I have probably done this exercise a dozen or more times now and the only hassle I have had is when I had to cut a nut off one of the sub frame bolts on one car.

Robert

[Carledo]

I disagree with Steve’s comment that it is far too much work to drop the sub frame, engine and gearbox assembly out to do the clutch.

I do not have a 4 poster ramp nor do I have a hydraulic gearbox jack. All I have is just a few basic hand tools and a chain hoist – and a convenient beam in my garage from which to hang that hoist. There is no way I could contemplate replacing the clutch from underneath the car for I have no way of man handling the gearbox safely.

It takes me at best about 40 minutes to remove the entire sub frame assembly from my car although I allow myself about an hour and a half now so that I can have a cup of tea half way through the process.

The question was asked do you have to remove the exhaust manifold from the head. If you drop it all out on the sub frame you do not have to strip anything off the engine for you disconnect the exhaust where the downpipe is clamped beside the gearbox. And neither do you have to remove anything from the engine bay.

The only thing that I have done to make my life easier is that I have made a dolly to sit the sub frame assembly on for I do not roll the assembly out on the two front wheels.

I have probably done this exercise a dozen or more times now and the only hassle I have had is when I had to cut a nut off one of the sub frame bolts on one car.

Robert

This is what I meant about "VERY experienced"!!!!! And YOURS Robert has been out so many times like this, that now, you only have to whistle and it jumps out on it's own!

Steve

[Flyfisherman]

73Sprint

Here viewtopic.php?f=19&t=22925&start=15#p224978 in Robert jig for supporting the engine and gearbox.

I renewed my sprint clutch two years ago, purchase a 2T hoist, bonnet off, dropped coolant, undo half a dozen wires, engine mounts numerous bolts etc and engine out via the top.

Paul

[GlenM]

It must have been an 1850 or 1500 (or both) that I broke for spares that came out from the inside then. It was a long time ago now.

[tony g]

Sprint boxes DO come out from the inside but are a fiddle. Lot of moving the box about and rotating it so it clears. Did one with my cousin in about 1990 when we took non O/D box out and converted it to O/D with parts.
Prob quicker to pull out of the top with engine though.

Tony

[SprintV8]

Looks like a Resto Show Competition coming on here.

Two Sprints Two Teams.
One removing Gearbox
One Dropping complete subframe Assy.

Personally I'll remove just the gearbox.