I've got a clutch that won't disengage To pull the clutch housing cover it appears that I have to pull the engine/trans. Is this straightforward or are there special things I need to know before doing this?

Is a standard engine hoist the best method or is there something else that suits minis better?

FWIW, I've pulled engine/trans on other vehicles, but not a front wheel drive, and not a mini.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Jeff

 

it's not hard at all....just follow the Haynes book

 

not to bad......like joltfreak said....just have the book with ya....

 

First time I saw my 79 the car was under a tree...a small "come-a-long" was wrapped to a branch and the block was hanging in mid-air. And the Haynes was open right along side

Weight should not an issue and Haynes appears good....

 

An experienced Mini guy can pull a motor unit in about 1 1/2 hours. So allow yourself 2-3 hours to pull. Think of it as a weekend job. You'll need an assistant. You'll need to tilt the top of the motor back to clear the differential at the firewall. The last thing to disconnect & first to reconnect on install is the speedo cable.

Although I have done clutches in situ, I suggest pulling it and addressing all issues at the same time (oil leaks, belts, hoses, clean & paint motor, clean engine compartment, etc)

You'll need a ball joint separator and a proper Mini flywheel puller. Plan on replacing the rear main seal when the flywheel is off.
............................

 

you can do the clutch inside the car, it's a slight tight squeeze, just hope that the clutch easily pulls off the crank or just disconnect everything including the front brake line and pull the subframe down from the bottom as a assembly. I find this easier then pulling the engine from the top.

 

Hi All,
After the engine has been pulled how much work/difficult is it to remove the front subframe?

Cheers,
Ryan

 

Unless you have access to helpers and a hoist, I'd do it this way as well. I've never actually pulled the motor out of my car, but most of the guys that post painting and engine detailing How-tos on the UK forums I read generally use the "drop" method to obtain access. Then just roll the car back away from the dropped engine/frint sub frame assembly (I've heard recountings of single men accomplishing this, but I'd get a helper).

Let us know how it goes and good luck!!

 

Thats how I removed mine. Unhooked everything, unbolted the front subframe (make sure its supported, as the engine will want to tilt fwd as the body is unbolted andd moved), and lifted the car over the enging, and rolled the mini back. I did this by myself, but wouldn't have if I lived a little closer to anyone willing to lend a hand.

 

Drop me a line if you're ever in central Ohio! I'd really like to do this over the winter, so I can recondition the engine and properly clean and dress the bay. Inspecting all the componants (steering, suspension and engine) wouldn't be a bad idea either. The idea of unbolting such a crucial and complex system is a dit daunting, I'll admit...

 

You lifted the vehicle over the engine? I can't possibly imagine that . Maybe I'm missing something, but the front end has to be picked up over 3 feet to be able to clear the engine. I guess I'll look into that when I pull my engine/trans in the next couple of weekends.

 

Its amazing how light the mini is with the front subframe and engine not attached to it. It seemed simple enough. I would still recommend it be a two person job though. For safety. I'm kinda numb sometimes though. Can be good for entertainment.
First time I started lifting the body up, I did forget to disconnect the right dampner. Thought it seemed kinda heavy on one side. Oops
Its not as daunting as it may seem. Getting it back in may be a different story though, and I'll see how that goes when I get the engine rebuilt.
And now at my daughters request, she would like to add a bunch of smileycons:

 

Heck - I've seen How-tos on UK forums where 3 men dead-lifted the ENGINE out of the top of the bay using ropes or chains and lots of sweat. I suspect lager was the "secret ingredient" in sch an endeavor as well.

I can't imagine how they repositioned it for the re-installation though...

 

Thats ummm.... not to smart. As for reinstallation, all they need is TWO lagers.