Thursday 4 March 1993

Transmission

While I had the engine out, I decided that I might as well pull out the transmission and clean it up as well. The transmission drain plug had a slight leak and had managed to coat just about every square inch of the transmission, not to mention other parts of the cars underside.

I jacked the car up as best I could and proceeded to pull out the transmision. The front of the transmission was held up by a rope and 2X4 laid across the top of the front fenders. I put a jack under the center of the transmission and proceeded to remove the transmission.

1. Remove the gearshift cover by unscrewing the 4 mounting screws holding down the cover plate.
2. Raise the rubber boot and remove the gearsift retaining plate and bolts.
3. Get under the car and remove the cable for the tachometer.
4. Remove the bolts holding the clutch slave cylinder in place and set it aside making sure you dont kink the hydraulics hose.
5. Remove the reverse light switch.
6. Disconnect the drive shaft, making sure to mark the driveshaft and the transmission so you know it will be balanced when you put it back together.
7. Disconnect the grounding strap.
8. Remove the Engine restraint rod.
9. Make sure the jack is supporting the weight of the transmission and undo the mounting bolts. There should be four of the them, don't take the cross member off, it will come out all in one piece.
10. Ease the transmission down and either pull it out on the jack (if you have the car raised high enough) or strongarm it on to the floor so you can slide it out from under the car.

I cleaned the transmission with some engine cleaner, a wire brush and an old tooth brush. Once I had it as clean as I thought I could get it, I painted it with a high heat engine paint.

The engine and transmission were ready to go back in the car, but it would all have to wait. I had gotten a job offer to work in Basel, Switzerland for my final work term. It was time to head to Europe!

Monday 1 March 1993

Reassembly of a Classic Car Engine

Over the Spring semester of school my friend, his brother and Dad helped me to put the MGB Engine back together. I am very grateful to my buddies family for not only being my family away from home when I lived in Edmonton, but for putting up with my English Motor. Thanks Aubrey's!

We slowly but the engine back together, working weekends and evenings when we had the chance. It wasn't easy with having to be in school full time but it was a good way to relax and forget about school.

Once we got it home I set about painting it. If you look closely at the picture of the primed engine you can see the "Mexican Chromed head".