Sierra 2.3D clutch change

(3) drop

IIRC, from many years ago, it's this option. Sorry I can't do better than that, but I do remember the back end of the box dangling down quite a lot before lifting one out - with lots of other people. You do know they're insanely heavy, don't you?

Si

Thanks, I don't know the weight, no. Thanks for the warning. Any other advice :-) (like, I'm not hinting that anyone should tell me to forget it but.....)

Cheers, Graham

Personally I wouldn't do it unless I had a pit/ramp and at least three big mates to help. They really are seriously heavy and if it rolls off a jack I wouldn't want to be near it. Lining it up afterwards could be a real nightmare unless you've got an aligning tool and extendable eyeballs. With lights on them.

They stink too.

If the old fella really wants it fixed I'd think about getting a quote from a local garage. This isn't in the spirit of the group, I know, but there are some jobs best left to those who do it every day, imo.

Si

you just drop the exhaust then you undo the gearbox mount as you are undoing it, you support it on a trolley jack and as the jack comes down you get the engine to till a little you then get all your very long extension bars to get to the bolts in question

done it literally hundreds of times and it's the same every time

remember to remove the gearstick before you get under the car though ;)

Got it, I had a good look around and spotted the exhaust being a problem. It looked to me like the sump may hit the cross member too, it's pretty close?? Apart from that it looks like all the coolant hoses and other bits and pieces will stretch :-) so we'll see how it goes.

Done the gearstick but thanks for that anyway, I don't know how many times I've got halfway through a job and had to backtrack because I've forgotten something basic like that.

Thanks for your time. Wish me luck! Graham

Thanks Si, We're pretty sure all it needs is a clutch. If there's any other damage then it'll be going down the scrappy's. It's not worth spending anything on, he's got it through the last 3 MOTs spending virtually zero on it. I think he likes to cruise past an old garage that used to do the work for him and show them that it's still going despite the fact they told him it had a cracked head 5 years ago. They bodged a heater matrix replacement job. Good for him.

Pity really as the engine and box are sweet as a nut, low mileage, it's just the bodywork is getting a bit rough.

We've got a pit and ramps, just need some clothes pegs for our noses and to rope in a couple of neighbours. Sorted!

Thanks a lot. Graham

good luck :) when the sump get's too close to the x member you just hold it there it's ok to sit it on the x member, but some people do find that you also need to drop the arb in order to the the box out all the way

make sure you have plenty of space to remove the box and aligning it up again isn't as easy as people think it is

the plate in the middle tends to have one or 2 bolts that don't get found, so keep a look out for them ;)

Cheers, I appreciate your help! Graham