E30 Zone

In the middle of doing an auto to manual conversion. Was going nicely along at my own pace but now i could scream, like a big girl!

Simply, I cannot get my new manual box on for that last inch. The splines are catching the clutch plate coz the gbox shaft turns when i crank the engine. I even used a clutch aligning tool. I've installed a new clutch, new spigot and felt ring all all that.
My arms and shoulders are killing me from trying to wriggle on the gbox lying on me back on the garage floor. I'm done in!!!

Help!

Why are you cranking the engine?
Should be a 5 minute job to locate the box onto the engine if everything is aligned and the clutch is fitted correctly

It was a tip from the manual if you have difficulty in getting it on!
I didn't think it would work but I'm getting desperate so tried it anyway.

So there's no trick to this then as long everything is aligned it should sail on going from your reply.
I thought there may be a different spigot sizes but I've just checked and they all appear to be the same.

I'm gonna have a brew and have another go in a minute. Probably take off the clutch and re-align it, make sure i haven't done anything daft.

Just make sure the clutch plate is on the correct way round as i have know someone to have the problems your having after putting that in the wrong way round.
Sometimes the boxes just fall on other times they can be a bit stubborn but it shouldn't take ages if everything is as i said above.
Good luck

as spadge says, it shouldnt be that difficult

make sure the clutch plate is the right way round, put the box in gear and then use the drive flange to turn the input shaft to help you locate it

As it goes back on, screw the two long main bell housing bolts into where the two shorter ones should be, so that they act as guides to keep the box lined up and take the weight.
Ideally you should be using even longer headless bolts as guides, but this substitute helps.

Brianmoooore wrote:As it goes back on, screw the two long main bell housing bolts into where the two shorter ones should be, so that they act as guides to keep the box lined up and take the weight.
Ideally you should be using even longer headless bolts as guides, but this substitute helps.

YESSSS!! The best bit of advice! With the clutch istalled correctly (take it off and check) get it on with bolts and slowly tighten them with a traolley jack supporting the weight. With the box in gear get a big socket on the output shaft nut and turn it until it catches and goes in. You've tried the clutch plate on the box splines, yes??
What box are you using? From memory the only difference in spigot bearings was M50 and M20 with the M50 one being fatter - if you're trying to mate an M50 box to an M20 this could be the issue.

I absolutely hate fitting these but it could be worse - a FWD Ford gearbox with no spigot shaft. What a total c*** they are.

chin up dude - tightening those lovely top bellhousing bolts when it is all in - with that really easy access lol will be a piece of piss after your trials!

a job i would rate as desirable as undoing propshaft flange bolts on a muddy surface in the rain - enhanced by a german shepherd who has just cleaned his balls insisting on trying to get under the car and lick your face - so saying - dog was probably no worse than some of the choice rottweilers in nightclubs in portsmouth i used to entertain in my youth after 6 pints

sorry for going off topic - good luck!

lol - racecar
You'll have to let me know which brand of deodorant you use.

Well, I can happily report.........the bstrd is now on! Hoorah!
I took the clutch off and checked the plate was facing the r8 way - which it was and thus saving me any embarrassment.
Tried mating the box without the clutch in the way to check if the shaft would fit into the spigot - which it did.
Then refitted and aligned the clutch but this time I jacked under the front of the engine as I completely forgot about the engine tilting forward without the gbox on. Thus, probably providing better alignment now.

So, came to trying to get the gbox back onto my trolley jack and i just couldn't do it. I was completely fooked and fuming

I think i layed there under my car for about 10 minutes. Staring at the underseal and wishing I was somewhere else!

Anyway, i calmed down and with renewed determination got the box back onto the jack. And she sailed straight into the spigot!

I couldn't fecking believe it


Then for the bolts. Equipped with a recently purchased set of wobble bars from Machine Mart I can say that they weren't too bad considering. Except for the the top nut on the back of the starter motor.........not funny. Especially with my fat slabs for hands.

Thanks for the advice guys. And the moral support.

[quote="SPADGE"]Just make sure the clutch plate is on the correct way round as i have know someone to have the problems your having after putting that in the wrong way round.

Would that be me mate?