GT6 Gearbox Removal

[75625]

I need to remove the gearbox on my MK2 GT6 and have been told it is not easy.   One suggestion is to take the box out with the engine together - is this possible? Has anyone done that?  Thanks

[JohnD]

Can't swear to a GT6, but that's the way I deal with my Vitesse - and it's had a few engines/gearboxes in and out!    It is far, far easier to detach and replace  gearbox from the back of the engine on the bench than grovelling in the car.

The WSM will say "take the bonnet off", but if you have a "LoadLeveller" and can suspend your engine winch from a high enough beam, the this is how I do it:

Hope that helps!

John

[iani]

Not difficult to remove a GT6 gearbox from inside the car with the engine still in place, remove the passenger seat and remove via that footwell.

[Colin Lindsay]

Remove the seats, the centre H support and the tunnel carpet and cover plus anything else that will make removal easier, then cover the floors and carpet with heavy cardboard before starting anything. The bellhousing will take much paint off if not protected!

[Pete Lewis]

you need to make a simple support to the rear of the sump

some also take the stg wheel off to gain better access 

but most do remove the box from inside the car leave the engine in place with its rear end supported 

Pete

 

[Nigel Clark]

2 hours ago, iani said:

Not difficult to remove a GT6 gearbox from inside the car with the engine still in place, remove the passenger seat and remove via that footwell.

+1

I've had the gearbox in and out of my GT6 several times over the years. Removing the H-frame centre console and tunnel cover is tedious but not difficult.

Remove the passenger seat then pulling the 'box and overdrive out through the cabin is a one man job. The rear of the engine needs to be supported with a jack, using a piece of wood to spread the load on the back of the sump pan. Raise the back of the engine slightly to enable the 'box to clear the transmission tunnel.

Refitting is the reverse procedure, as Haynes manuals like to say! However a gearbox with overdrive is heavy, and care is needed to align the input shaft and clutch splines. A helper at this stage is useful, though it can be done alone.

Nigel

[dannyb]

As the above. I also use a couple of long  studs screwed into the engine block to help aline when refitting. 

Danny

[Ian Foster]

Having spent a small fortune at the chiropractor over the last 18 months after a rotator cuff tear, I am currently preparing for the removal of the engine and gearbox in order to do a clutch swap and gearbox check over.

I have removed the box through the car in the past, but it is not easy and puts strain on hoses etc. as well as one's anatomy. (the car is lot lower now than it was when I was in my 20s)

I do have the time to do the engine and box and will take the opportunity of having the engine out to do a bit of a tidy up.

Ian 

Edited November 11, 2023 by Ian Foster
update

[Graham C]

I have done both methods, removal/ replacement of gearbox through the car is hard work and hard on the body. The box is heavy and a tight fit when attaching the the engine. A lot easier to remove both together, this summer I removed the engine and gearbox to sort out an oil leak and at the same time repainted the bulk head, strip and paint the chassis and  upgraded the suspension.

If you can combine these job then remove engine and gearbox.  Also fixing up the engine bay increases the value of the car and is a simple .

Graham

[Colin Lindsay]

One other thing: be careful of the sharp edges of the propshaft tunnel especially if getting fingers in under to raise the rear of the box. Cover them with something, even a push-on plastic edge as they will slice skin very easily.

[Paul H]

I found using a ply board was useful when pulling the gearbox from my Vitesse . The board acted as a “skid” making it easier to manoeuvre in and back in and also protects the carpet 

Paul 

[75625]

Thanks all - very helpful advice, as we have the space / lifting capability think the box + engine out the front will be the way to go this time and do some other jobs whilst engine is out.  

[johny]

Yes nice to get it all out in the open but unfortunately the gearbox interior cover will still have to be removed to undo various bits....

[dougbgt6]

I've done it twice from the inside, as stated passenger seat out. It's tricky to wiggle the bell housing out, it's wider than the hole in the bulkhead. WHY did they do that?!! I'm told the engine went on the chassis and the body on next and they didn't notice THE HOLE WASN'T BIG ENOUGH!!  

Doug

[Stratton Jimmer]

A friend and I took a Mk2 GT6 gearbox out of its car from the inside with the car on the edge of the parade ground at RAF Uxbridge 1982. I don't remember it being overly difficult. The car belonged to a WRAF driver. She was very grateful!

[Graham C]

Having done both methods on a spitfire 1500 and GT6 by myself on my own, the easier method is to remove the engine and gearbox together. May be longer but easier on the your body. Being bent double wiggling the gearbox in a GT6 to push it back in through a hole that is slightly to small and wrong shape.

Both methods work so choose which method suits you.Graham

Graham

 

[johny]

Its the exhaust that always worries me when removing the engine - I always expect the manifold to downpipe nuts to be seized and then a stud or more to shear off🤣Im a born pessimist and would even consider undoing the exhaust/intake manifold from the block instead...

[dougbgt6]

3 hours ago, johny said:

Im a born pessimist and would even consider undoing the exhaust/intake manifold from the block instead...

Yup I did that last time I took the head off, looks most precarious balanced on top of the exhaust. I put additional support under the exhaust because once disconnected from the head all that weight is held up by one tiny bracket. 

Doug

[DanMi]

4 hours ago, johny said:

Its the exhaust that always worries me when removing the engine - I always expect the manifold to downpipe nuts to be seized and then a stud or more to shear off🤣Im a born pessimist and would even consider undoing the exhaust/intake manifold from the block instead...

no choice on my car as the mk2 spit has a 1 piece 4-2-1 manifold which is too long to raise the rear of the engine without removing from the cylinder head.