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MG MGB Technical - Gearbox removal

Can a gearbox (transmisson) be removed without removing the engine?
CDB Chuck

No.
the bell housing is too close to the tunnel and can't be moved back enough to get the input shaft clear of the clutch plate.
You could try tilting the whole lot but by the time you've removed the exhaust, most of the mounting bolts, engine earth strap and all coolant hoses, you might as well lift the lot out!

MGmike
M McAndrew

Some say yes, but as mike pointed out, a lot of work. I can pull the engine/transmission out of the car in a couple of hours.
Bruce Cunha

A non-overdrive box can be pulled without the engine, but the amount of work involved makes it a poor idea. Most of the shift linkage must be removed and the possibilitys for further problems increases. RAY
rjm RAY

I had a gearbox/engine alignment problem that I maybe wouldn't have found or solved as easily if the engine was in the car.

After assembling the engine/gearbox unit in the garage I turned the assembly over by hand and felt something dragging/binding. I could hear it was in the gearbox which was 100% free before the boltup. So I loosened the engine/gearbox bolts and moved it until the bind was gone. Retorqued and all was well.

This was a non-OD Mark I.
Robert McCoy

Robert, I encountered the same problem on re-assembly of my '67. Loosening the engine to transmission bolts, and slightly raising the engine, cured the bind. After tightening all of the bolts, I removed the jack and all has been working perfectly for almost 20 years of service. RAY
rjm RAY

This thread was discussed between 03/10/2012 and 06/10/2012

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