von

89GXL..Im ripping clutch out. Im wondering how many bolts around the bell housing and if thier will be any fluid leaking out by any chance. What to watch out for exc. Thnx. Im getting the pilot bearing puller or whatever. Im putting in the standard street comp clutch from rx7.com

Sniper_X

No need to get a pilot bearing puller.

Ill go into that in a second...

Go to the FC3S.ORG site, and DL the factory service guide.

It will outline the procedure for transmission removal in detail for all 2nd gen cars well enough for you to do it right.

There are 6 bolts. (after you remove the starter.)

Use a transmission jack.

I would hate to see you drop this thing and / or get trapped.

To remove the pilot bearing without tools, and do it safely without doing somthing INSANE like GRINDING it out....

Search the forum for my writeup(s) on how to use a wooden dowel and water to remove the bearing.

Type this into the search parameters....

dowel AND bearing AND towel AND water

This should bring the threads to the top of the search.

Let me know how this goes.

von

Wow. ok thnx alot...But. Im just taking out the clutch...Why do I have to drop the whole tranzmission?

kristopher_d

Because...The clutch is between the engine and transmission, and since the transmission has fewer conections, is lighter, and easier to remove, you remove it to change the clutch. Bellhousing and transfer case are integral.

kristopher_d

I just ran the search for your write up, and this thread is the only it finds. Any other suggestions?

turbotwista

well sounds like you should go to autozone and get yourself a $13 haynes manual. after putting back in the tranny don't forget the ground wire at the top of the tranny that goes to the fire wall like I did (didn't even know it was there) or your car will run all kinds of retarded.

DC350

Youy have to take out the tranny, take out the 6 bolts. And no matter what people say. Use a friggin GRINDER to get that bitch out, Hardest thing to do. Took me 2 hours to get it out.

von

I still dont know what it is really. And the clutch has only 30k on it so it might not be to hard.

I saw the FC3S.org site...I think thats all I need to now right? And the six bolts are right on the bell housing???

Sniper_X

Get a metal or hard wooden dowel the SAME SIZE as the -inner diameter- of the bearing.

Make sure the dowel moves freely in and out of the bearing without too much space on the sides.

(Use the transmission pilot shaft as a guide)

THEN...

Take a few cups of water and a few paper towels.

Soak the paper towels in the water and tear thiem into small peices. (important)

Insert as much soaked paper towels as you can into the hole.

Pack them in until you reach the bottom (back) of the bearing.

Then...
Be perpared to be amazed...

Plae the dowel in the hole touching the water soaked paper towels.

Then switfly and firmly strike the dowel with a HEAVY hammer.

The water will shoot out the only place possible.....

behind the bearing.

The bearing will fly out of the hole abruptly.

You will now begin to laugh hysterically.
( This is normal. do not be afraid. )

The faster you hit the dowel with a heavy hammer the better.

Make sure you have the dowel going into the hole STRAIGHT.

You have to "SURPRISE" the bearing out.

This works.

(Now ask me how you can remount a tire with just a lighter.)

Sniper_X

Please read and possibly print the procedure for tranny removal.

Study it, or it could cost you a day or two in work hours.

And its TOO FIRGGIN HOT to spend more time than required on this....

Sniper_x

von

Wow. thnx..I just got done printing all 19 pages out. But I just looked at the tranz removal...looks easy enoughf I guess. Starter. shifter, ground , 6 bolts and swiches.

CanadianRX7

i just did mine yesterday. U will most likely need to unbolt the cat section of the exhaust to get the drive shaft out.

The bolt on the top of the tranny is the ground wire.

the hardest part of the install was trying to get the ******* tranny to line up right and that sob is heavy too. i would recomend getting another person to help u with the tranny because its pretty hard by yourself

Sniper_X

There is no replacement for the right tool.

Think of the trouble you'll have getting the tranny:

out...
moved...
back up...
aligned...
installed....

Would you pay $45.00 to not have to deal with that?

Then get THIS TOOL for your Hydraulic Jack.

Its a LIFE SAVER!!!!!

I LOVE this thing!

Unfortunately there is no retail store near you.

But they can ship!

Look for this tool in your area if you need it sooner.
There HAS to be a place if you call a transmission shop, then you might get a tech to tell you where one is.

Someone has to know!

Rotorific

iTrader: (1)

When you get good you can take out a trans in 40 minutes- (from putting the car on jacks to dropping it down) and do what you gotta do hehe uh nevermind its not a hard task and youll find out that it wont be the last time you do it. Just make sure you dont wobble the tranny around to much and it fall its not heavy but guarranted to leave a mark to say the least if it tips. - Gabe Medo

peejay

Yeah I did my first RX-7 clutch on my lunch break. I'm not that slow now that I have more practice

von

If it takes only 40 minutes then HOW can the mechanic charge 385 bucks in labor alone.

CanadianRX7

well thats just taking out the tranny. U then have to di the clutch etc and put the tranny and everything back together which will take about an hour or so with minimal problems.

took us 3 hours to do mine.

Kyrasis6

Take some aether, spray it around the seal, take to the lighter to it and woom, tire birsts back onto the rim. Too much aether and you will blow up the tire though.

GlenL

Wow... gravedigging...

rockymtn7

I am going to call Bull **** on this one. There is no way you did your first RX-7 clutch on your lunch break. Unless you lunch is 2+ hrs and you have a full service garage.

rockymtn7

On an '87 NA its 4 bolts and 1 nut (after you remove the starter.)