Arrgh! I really don't want to have to take the engine out, as I'd definately need to get a garage to do the work then (I don't have the equipment).
I've just been looking at the Haynes manual and to remove the gearbox it seems to recommend all sorts of odd things like removing the exhaust pipe, draining the radiator, removing the heater and the carb linkages. Is this really necessary to get the gearbox off? I'd have thought it'd only be necessary to do this when removing the engine.
It also seems to indicate (in the picture) that it is possible for one person to lift the gearbox in and out of position. I thought it was too heavy for that!
Engine out is quicker than gearbox as long as you have a hoist.
If not, then gearbox can be done as a 1 man job, but not for the feint hearted! Disconnecting the exhaust at the manifold is a good idea - draining the rad is overkill. If you remove the heater valve from the back of the cylinderhead it will make the job 10 times easier.
Basically the gearbox doesn't come past the steering rack! However if you lower the engine and box at the rear and rotate the gearbox about 40 degrees it will come past the rack. If you lower the engine, the heater valve fouls the battery box and the weight of the engine sits on the heater valve (bad idea). If you remove the valve, the engine will drop further which makes the job easier.
Refitting the box on your own is a pig, but with determination and a bit of patience it will go on. It took me 10 minutes to get a gearbox back on an engine last weekend, but it felt like a lot longer!
If you have a nice warm garage, it is better - if you are doing it outside in a monsoon (like last weekend) it is really not fun.
Ray. MMOC#47368. Forum moderator.
Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure:
http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block
