I bought a 2003 Mustang GT back in the spring of this year, It has just turned over 60,000 miles and my release "throw-out" bearing has gone bad. Before taking on the project I got a couple of quotes on how much it would be to have a mechanic do the repair and I got somewhere around a grand for a quote. Then I started doing my research and found that I could get a good clutch kit with the bearing and everything for about $350, I'm 19 and $350 sounded a lot better than a grand so I ordered a Spec Stage 3 Clutch kit. Next I bought a Hayes manual so I'd have an idea what I was getting into and started the disassembly process;
Took the knob etc. off the shifter, disconnected the battery, disengaged the clutch cable, undid the wiring harness, took the drive shaft off, supported the engine under the oil pan with a jack, took the transmission (cross member) support loose, place a jack under the tranny, took the 5 bolts holding the bell housing to the engine (3 on one side 2 on the other (or at least that's how many bolts the manual said I have) then it says I should be able to slide it out with the jack but it doesn't want to come out and feels like there are still bolts or something holding it. I did some probing around and it looks like there is some kind of bracket above the bell-housing with 2 bolts in it that may be holding it on but try as I may I can't figure a way to get at the bolts. I also unbolted the starter thinking maybe that was holding it together but it still will not slide out.
I don't know exactly what to do next, and I keep wondering if I have to take those 2 bolts lose, and why the Haynes manual did not give me any instructions to that effect!
Sorry for the long detailed message but I've been all over the net trying to find some answers and maybe even some pics of how-to or what I'm doing wrong.
Thanks for any help you can send my way! I value your help! Maybe if I can every get the tranny dropped I can put my clutch kit in...
-Daniel
Took the knob etc. off the shifter, disconnected the battery, disengaged the clutch cable, undid the wiring harness, took the drive shaft off, supported the engine under the oil pan with a jack, took the transmission (cross member) support loose, place a jack under the tranny, took the 5 bolts holding the bell housing to the engine (3 on one side 2 on the other (or at least that's how many bolts the manual said I have) then it says I should be able to slide it out with the jack but it doesn't want to come out and feels like there are still bolts or something holding it. I did some probing around and it looks like there is some kind of bracket above the bell-housing with 2 bolts in it that may be holding it on but try as I may I can't figure a way to get at the bolts. I also unbolted the starter thinking maybe that was holding it together but it still will not slide out.
I don't know exactly what to do next, and I keep wondering if I have to take those 2 bolts lose, and why the Haynes manual did not give me any instructions to that effect!
Sorry for the long detailed message but I've been all over the net trying to find some answers and maybe even some pics of how-to or what I'm doing wrong.
Thanks for any help you can send my way! I value your help! Maybe if I can every get the tranny dropped I can put my clutch kit in...
-Daniel