I got the motor back in and lined up with the bell housing and the mounts dropped in.

My problem is that the clutch cover (ie pressure plate) holes will not line up with the flywheel. I can turn the flywheel and all (they line up that way), but what Im talking about is it appears the pressure plate is sitting too lowand the bolt has to be angled inward so much that it wont thread. I tried jacking up the tranny/engine, and lowering them, nothing works. Is there a trick to getting the plate holes to line up with flywheel holes?

 

Bolt up the transmission to the engine. After that the pressure plate holes should line up with the fly wheel.

 

Thanks Trex. Unfortunetly they dont. I pulled the motor back out and tried again. This time the drive shaft seems to line up correctly and the bottom of the bell housing is snug. But now the top has a pretty big gap. Sheesh. I guess I'll try and remove the motor mounts and just get the bell housing lined up first.

Ill try to post pics later today.

 

I have always pulled the tranny together with the motor. It is so much easier to line stuff up out of the car. Plus it goes in really easy with the tranny bolted on.

Maybe I am confused about what you are asking, but aren't you bolting on the clutch before you drop the motor in? Are you using a clutch alignment tool to get the disc placed properly?

I would suggest pulling off the motor mounts at this point. Or, you can disconnect the PPF so that you can push the tranny onto the motor once the motor is in place. Either one of these should work, it will just take a lot of careful alignment.

Good luck.

Jeff

 

I think your comfusing your self, you are referring to the bell housing as the pressure plate. The bellhousing can be a bitch to get bolted on to the back of the engine, what you do is.... take bellhousing bolts to the local hardware store, and buy some bolts that are 2 inches longer, the crank those down, after you get everything snug, back one out at a time and put the normal bolts back in.

 

What I was saying is I have the Bellhousing (I do know what it is ) bolted to the engine with no problem. But since I left the clutch disk and pressure plate in the tranny (bruce turrentines video says do it this way) - I cant seem to get the pressure plate holes to line up with the flywheel holes. For example, when I look through the access door the pressure plate hole is lower, whereas the flywheel hole is higher. Thus the bolt(s) that hold the pressure plate to the flywheel would have to be angled from the pressure plate to the flywheel and they WILL NOT thread like this.

Im taking the motor back out to try it the other way.

 

Oh sheit! That sounds like hell to me. I suggest putting the clutch on the flywheel first.

Remember, this car has a pull-type clutch. You will have to use a screwdriver or pry bar to pop out the retainer ring on the pressure plate so the fork will turn loose of it.

Good luck.

Jeff

 

put the clutch on the flywheel first. Its much easier this way. Just make sure to use a clutch alignment tool. then bolt the tranny to the engine and drop the whole thing in the car in one piece. This is much easier done if you have a load leavler for your engine hoist. Good luck, I hope I helped.

 

This is going to be a little long.
In the BT FD R&R video, he did not have a very good description on how to put the engine back in. He simply said do the reverse of the removal proceedure.
So here it is.

After your bolt the bell housing to the engine (tighting it somewhat). At this point rotate the flywheel slowly (you'll need a friend for this) by cranking on the main e-shaft bolt with a large wrench until the holes are aligned.
Now use a crow bar to push the pressure plate toward the flywheel (This is where you are prob having alignment issues, it is very difficult to push the pressure evenly toward the flywheel, and the tilt will seem like the holes are not aligning properly) and get one of the bolts started (just started not tighten). After that, use the crow bar to even out the pressure plate (because at this point, the pressure plate is slightly slanted due to only one bolt holding it against the flywheel.) While you are straightening out the pressure plate have your friend turn the flywheel some more and get the next bolt started (not tightened). This step will get easier as you get more bolts in, after a little more than half way around you won't need the crow bar anymore. Gradually tighten down the pressure plate bolts one after another, you will need to repeat this 2-3 complete turns and then gradually torque each bolt down. If you tighten one bolt too much during this process the pressure plate will be tilted and cause the other bolts to seize.
I hope all this helps.

 

Thanx everybody!

Trex, that is exactly what was happening. As I tilted it it just wasnt lining up. I got the engine back out and Im going to try it the other way I think. But I really do appreciate the tips as you are correct that the video doesnt show you how to re-install.

I think the biggest tool I am missing is this "friend" thing you are talking about. Do they rent these at Autozone?

 

Mazda Reman Motor - $2000.00
New Gaskets - $200.00
New Silicone Vacumme Hoses - $60.00
Engine Hoist Rental - $50.00

Friend that is willing to help with instalation - Priceless

Hope you get it in this time.

Jeff