Headache to change clutch with long tubes?

[nmcgrawj]

Hey guys, i've gotta replace my clutch. I havent gotten under there yet but im thinking its gonna be a PITA with long tubes on there. Has anyone done it? Any tips? Will i have to take the headers out?

 

[Grn92LX]

Headers will have to be dropped buddy. Been there/done that, its annoying. I'm about to drop my LT's so I can swap out my heads and intake gaskets, yay!

 

[nmcgrawj]

****in POS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[1slow95]

I can do it without removing the headers on my car, but it's still a pita. The 351 is wider, so that may explain why I can do it. If you do need to pull the headers, you could probably get away with just removing one side.

 

[Guero]

I was able to install my clutch and the t-56 with the LT's. Only had problems with one bolt and just needed an extra extention I didn't have

 

[nmcgrawj]

Just so u guys know, i swapped clutches today. I have mac long tubes(for fox's) on my car. Everything went pretty smooth. I unbolted the tranny from the bell housing. Dropped that out with no problem. Then i had all sorts of room to unbolt the bellhousing. My only tight spot came when getting the bell housing out from under as the long tubes didnt let it jsut drop down. I had to turn and knudge it out. But out it came, in went the new clutch, and back went the bell housing. So it can be done pretty easily without ever touching the headers.

Now.....how the hell can i put this TKO600 back into the car? lol. I tried lifting it but i cant get it up high enough to put on my chest to then benchpress up. Im thinking a jack but that seems like its gonna be a beast to balance it although i do have a huge floor jack with a pretty big "lift pad".


Ideas?

 

[5spd GT]

Yeah, I have swapped clutches before with longtubes in place...

I either would lift it by myself or with a buddy helping. Your idea with the jack is great. I put a small 2x4 on the jack and lifted it up. It allowed me to get it in line with the clutch disc and I just had to push the jack towards it and up the more room I got in the tunnel...

Easy stuff Good Luck...

 

[95Vert]

You beat me to it. I just replaced my clutch with the l/t on there. You just have to unbolt the tranny first, just like you did.

Regarding lifting the tranny, it's a 2 man job. We used a floor jack to lift the tranny and I balanced it on there. Then, my buddy pulled the jack and I pushed the tranny in there. May require some twising to get it all the way in, but it WILL go in.

 

[nmcgrawj]

Thanks guys, got it all in and its all set!

 

[reddy351]

Thanks guys, got it all in and its all set!

Whew!!! Glad you're still alive! I was reading this thinking bad things about the "bench-press tranny install" method. (I have done it before. Outside. Wintertime. No fun. ) I haven't been in that position in a while. I hope I don't have to be again. Congrats on the swap!

 

[nmcgrawj]

haha thanks again. Oh and i was talkin with mike(grn92lx) and it seems that mac long tubes make it a bit easier as compared to bbk. Just for those who read this in the future.

 

[urban96]

are u using a scatter shield type bellhousing or an aluminum one?

 

[Methodical]

I don't have long tubes - seems I'm the only one these days- but I can give some advice on getting the transmission in and getting shaft to drop in without twisting transmission and possibly damaging the throwout bearing. I've removed and install my transmission at least 5-6 times all by myself - now it's just the stock T5 though. I used a jack to support the transmission while getting it in place. Now, to make the input shaft drop in without having to twisting the transmission, you need to have the clutch cable installed on the clutch fork like normal, now once you get the input shaft to go in as far as it will go, have someone depress the clutch and that baby will just drop right in - no twisting the trans etc. Oh, I hope you changed the pilot bearing while in there.

 

[1slow95]

are u using a scatter shield type bellhousing or an aluminum one?

With my stock T5 it was pretty easy to change the clutch with or without LT's. Now I have a McLeod scatter shield bell and TKO 600. The bellhousing weighs a good 25 pounds or so and it's bigger(wider) than stock. It's a PITA to remove with LT's, but it can be done.

 

[nmcgrawj]

I have an aluminum bell housing.

 

[5spd GT]

I can change my clutch out with BBK longtubes and not unbolt anything...

But that is on a fox