Muncie leak query

[Roscobbc]

Probably more of a 'thing' relating to access specific to big block engines......but access to bellhousing bolts on BB engine (if you need to take the clutch out) is very tight unless you have a set of cranked and/or long reach spanners. Dropping rear of engine allows you to get access from the underside of the car and using socket extensions. Beware of cooling fan/water pump hitting the radiator if doing this (with BB engine..
..perhaps SB engine too?)

 

[Oneball]

Good news , I wonder if as someone suggested on here a while back if I could just pull the box back enough to access the bearing support and replace the missing bolt and add the french locking tabs, any thoughts

You could easily do that if all you want to get at is the bolt. If you want to actually remove the bearing carrier you’ll have to pull the box.

 

[Mad4slalom]

You could easily do that if all you want to get at is the bolt. If you want to actually remove the bearing carrier you’ll have to pull the box.

I may try the easy option first , if i just try to pull box back , would i still need to remove whole shifter and rods or could i just unbolt the shift lever inside the car?

 

[Oneball]

I may try the easy option first , if i just try to pull box back , would i still need to remove whole shifter and rods or could i just unbolt the shift lever inside the car?

I think you can do it, I’m pretty sure the first time I took one out I didn’t remove the shifter but it was so much in the way i decided it was easier to remove.

 

[Mad4slalom]

I think you can do it, I’m pretty sure the first time I took one out I didn’t remove the shifter but it was so much in the way i decided it was easier to remove.

Thank you oneball, she is on the ramp and I am just spending lots of time running through in my head how to attack it. I think I can leave the exhaust in situ just remove the hanger that attaches to the gearbox mount . Have had the prop and yoke off before when I changed tailshaft seal and bush. When I pull the box to the rear will the splined front shaft just pull out of the spigot bush , through the clutch and release bearing without disturbing the bell housing clutch fork.? Sorry for all questions but many years since I pulled a box . Other than beach buggy engine off the trans axle , that was easy by comparison. TiA

 

[Oneball]

“When I pull the box to the rear will the splined front shaft just pull out of the spigot bush , through the clutch and release bearing without disturbing the bell housing clutch fork.?”

Yes, it’ll stay on the ball pivot but will drop a bit. When you put the box back you just have to make sure the input shaft goes back through the release bearing.

You might not even move it far enough back for the input shaft to come all the way out of the clutch if you just want to get to the bolt.

 

[Mad4slalom]

“When I pull the box to the rear will the splined front shaft just pull out of the spigot bush , through the clutch and release bearing without disturbing the bell housing clutch fork.?”

Yes, it’ll stay on the ball pivot but will drop a bit. When you put the box back you just have to make sure the input shaft goes back through the release bearing.

You might not even move it far enough back for the input shaft to come all the way out of the clutch if you just want to get to the bolt.

Thanks oneball, I have a mechanic friend coming one eve next week and we are going to have a go at it , he came for a look last eve. Iwill get the prop snd slip yoke off andthe shifter console and lever off ready. The reverse lock out cablelooks tight between box and tunnel but hope fully it is just the reverse lever end to detatch and a bracket to the trans., looks like an electrical switch on the box too that is linked to the reverse lever? And speedo cable. Trans mount bolts and exhaust hanger. ( I think i can leave exhausts in situ and just support them in the crossmember holes.
Any tips for detatching and replacing shift rods to their original positions would be helpful. Or anything else you can suggest. I am hoping i can replace the bolt in the bearing support using the existing gasket but depending on how it looks we will decide whether to pull the box right out.
Nervous but excited at the prospect of being able to drive further than the few local miles i have been without having to constantly top up the oil
Thanks for all the help and advice

 

[Oneball]

Can’t help with some of those things as there’s no speedo cable or reverse lockout on mine and it’s side pipes.

I reset/check the gear linkage each time. But it should be close/right just by removing the rods.

 

[Mad4slalom]

Can’t help with some of those things as there’s no speedo cable or reverse lockout on mine and it’s side pipes.

I reset/check the gear linkage each time. But it should be close/right just by removing the rods.

Ok , thanks again tho oneball, I will keep you posted on what we find

 

[Mad4slalom]

Ok , thanks again tho oneball, I will keep you posted on what we find

Well oneball, Tranny all back in and been for a test. All seems ok tbere is an odd drip of oil but I think it is just the oil that had previously leaked from the missing bolt hole into the bellhousing and should stop quite quickly . Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Grahamred70]

Good to hear you're all sorted now, surprising what you can achieve when you have friends to assist!

Graham

 

[Mad4slalom]

Good to hear you're all sorted now, surprising what you can achieve when you have friends to assist!

Graham

Like a lot of jobs, it wasnt as bad i as had feared. Back up was helpful tho as the shifter rods were scaring me a bit it all seems to be shifting ok, I wonder if i should make up this locking tool to align levers to check sdjustment. Is that done from underneath does anyone know ?

 

[Mad4slalom]

The 72 had been up on the lift for nearly a week and got quite dusty, so after the gearbox job and test drive I treated her to a wash and full wax job , tyres, wheels ,chrome and glass and put her away in the piano room. Really looking forward to my next run out now , anyone seen the forecast

 

[Mad4slalom]

The 72 had been up on the lift for nearly a week and got quite dusty, so after the gearbox job and test drive I treated her to a wash and full wax job , tyres, wheels ,chrome and glass and put her away in the piano room. Really looking forward to my next run out now , anyone seen the forecast View attachment 27088View attachment 27088View attachment 27089

Hi oneball, one final request, would you have an image of your clutch pedal return spring ? I bought a new one for my72 and noticed that the one on there seems way heavier than the new one . I have’nt fitted it as yet but wondered if my clutch feels heavier than it should due to this .
Since pulling the box back and fixing the leak I notice the clutch pedal is noisy but without the motor running so not your normal thrust bearing noise. I wonder if I have disturbed the thrust bearing or something, it all seems to be working fine. I will investigate further when I get back from my oxford run.
On a more positive note , I have just collected my front under riders from the plater in Yate

 

[Oneball]

 

[Mad4slalom]

View attachment 27194View attachment 27195

Thanks oneball, yes , take a look at mine with the correct one alongside for comparison . I have not pushed any other corvette clutches to compare how heavy mine is .