[Spits] Transmission installation

[jimmuller at rcn.com]

Jim Cullen asked:

> Or, is the fact that the bellhousing is flush to the top
> of the engine good enough to tighten down the surrounding
> bolts/nuts?

NOOOO!!!!!

The large block-bellhousing gap at the bottom is telling you that they are not angled properly: the tranny input shaft is hitting the clutch from too high an angle, i.e. the crank and input shaft are forming a shallow V.  Most likely this is preventing it from entering the pilot bushing, but it could also just be preventing the spines from mating.  I don't know how you have everything supported but the action you must take one way or another is to lower the back of the tranny so that it and the crank are co-axial.  A related problem is that if you have the block supported too high the various protrusions on the tranny may hit the firewall and frustrate you.

There is no substitute for patience.  Also useful are a good helper, 2ft long sections of 2x4 for leverage, an adequate supply of swear words, and a good ale waiting for motivation but not so good as to make you rush the job.

But regardless of the tools, do not force it.

Jim Muller
'80 Spitfire
'70 GT6+
plenty of pull-the-tranny experience