Hi all,

I just got an AE82 with a 4AGE nice deal for only $200 but it needs a new clutch, I'm new to FWD cars i have never worked on them before just need to know what the best approach I should take towards this? I have heard that in some FWD cars u need to take the engine out to get to the gear box/clutch I'm hoping in this case that I can just take every thing out that’s in the way and slide the gear box off the engine.

With my old '82 i just pulled the motor and 'box out as a complete unit. And that was a phuck arse around to do in lifting the motor and 'box up and out. Seen pictures and read that the better way of doing the deed is in dropping the combo and lifting the front end of the car up and over. A mechanic that i used to see from time to time reckoned the 'box could be pulled from the car leaving the motor in the bay.

 

And just a note - if you go pulling the dizzy out, make sure you know the rotor buttons position for No. 1 spark plug.

I've pulled the box off by itself with the engine in the car. Hardest part was messing about getting the driveshafts up and out of the way. I would recommend changing the inner driveshaft boots while you are there. They are cheap to buy, and easy to do at the same time.

 

It is also quite hard lining up the clutch driven plate as you can't look direct on very easily. Try and source a clutch aligning tool for a front wheel drive 4A.

 

Lastly, the weight distribution in the box is off centre, so it can be a prick lifting and trying to jiggle it about on a jack, and you can guarantee it will fall off a few times. Essentially you need to get under it yourself and lift so having the clutch correctly centered is a good idea! Best $15 or so bucks you will ever spend. At least that's what you will be thinking when its finished.

 

Not a hard job, just a bit of a prick.

Not a hard job, just a bit of a prick.

:P i'll totally agree with you there

Got all the bolts from the gear box to the engine unbloted and the only thing holding the the gearbox in is the moutns from the xmember but i need to know about the drive shafts and the linkages from the shifter. can i just unbolt the box and when i take it out slide out the shafts or do i need to unbold them and remove them first.

Have you got the motor supported ?

Have you got the motor supported ?

Yea i have the engine crain holding it in place just incase

Remove the driveshaft from the hub on the gearbox end and carefully support them out of the way. I left mine connected at the wheel end. It is difficult to get them right out of the way. I may even have unbolted the front struts at the steering arm to enable a bit more clearance

 

From memory, (it was a while ago), you remove the inner boot and slide the CV joint out of its casing. Be gentle with the CV!'

 

Then drop the box. I would be putting some of the bellhousing bolts back in before I got underneath it and started fiddling with the driveshafts though.