[alfa] Re: alfa-digest V9 #1001 removing engine from 86 spider

["George Schweikle" <schweikg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Damien,

You don't have to remove the engine to change a clutch; Once all of the
relevant bits are loose, the engine can be tilted back on the motor mounts
until the back of the cam cover almost touches the rear engine compartment
bulkhead. At this stage the bell housing and tranny can be slipped clear. I
did this last year to change a tranny on my 76 Spider (and, while you will
stress some body parts, it's not at all hard). Suggestions:
1. Get a good really good set of jackstands; there isn't room for a live
human under a Spider if it falls.
2. Use an alignment tool to be sure the clutch disc is centered when the new
pressure late is installed.
3. I assemble the rear transmission mount and driveshaft before installing
the transmission, and this is a lot of weight to lift into position. I
recommend deburring the edges of the splines on the transmission input shaft
to assure the shaft will slide into the clutch disc at the first try.
4. Don't let the tranny weight hang on the input shaft during installation;
have a couple of nuts ready to fasten everything to the back of the engine.
5. Don't forget to detach the speedometer cable and ground strap.
6. Be sure to turn the clutch slave cylinder so the bleed screw is at the
top. MUCH easier to bleed.

Good luck...

George Schweikle
Lexington, KY
76 Spider
91 Spider Veloce


> Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 11:24:10 -0500
> From: "Damien Gaboury" <dgaboury@domain.elided>
> Subject: [alfa] Removing the engine and tranny tips?
>
> I am in the process of removing the engine and trany from my alfa spider
1986
> in order to replace the clutch and perform a head gasket job. Remaining
items
> to be disconnected are the driving shaft and the tie-rod link.
>
> I reed somewhere that jacking up the rear of the car will help to remove
the
> engine-trany by allowing larger clearance at the trany end. I remember
also
> that someone suggested to change position of the hook on the engine in
order
> to get a better balance during hosting of the engine-trany assemblage.
>
> Any other tips will be appreciated.
> ________________________________
> Damien Gaboury, Gio., PhD
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