Wedge Pulling TR8 trans in the driveway?

[tdskip]

Hi guys - can I get enough clearance to pull the TR8 transmission in the driveway with the front end on the ground? Basically asking if I can just jack the rear end up high enough to get acceptable access.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

I'm interested to hear opinions on this one. Because the car sits so low, and the angles involved in providing clearance to pull it, I'm not sure it can be done very easily. To get enough room, the rear might have to be lifted farther than the bodywork up front will allow.

Might be better to get the front end up at least a bit.

 

[tdskip]

Hi Mickey - thanks for the note. Think getting the front wheels 12-18 off the ground be enough?

 

[Mickey Richaud]

I'm sure it will help. You're gonna need a good bit of clearance to maneuver, I would think.

Hopefully, some others will chime in here.

 

[tdskip]

OK, OK. I can take a hint. Was just trying to avoid having to push her up the driveway into the garage. I'll try to think of it as exercise rather than a pain.

 

[tr8todd]

You need to raise the front and rear high enough to clear the height of the bellhousing to drag it out from under the car. Just did one about a month ago. Biggest headache is the exhaust. The car I worked on had a 2.5 exhaust and a crossover pipe located about 8 inches from the back of the tranny. Ended up removing and then reinstalling one header and most of the exhaust.

 

[tdskip]

So a couple feet in the air at least then...

Now the next question is if to install the used but clamined to be good box or send it out for a rebuild/exchange so I know I have a good one that is going in...

 

[Brosky]

With all of that "potential" work ahead of you if it isn't right, I'd be checking that unit out VERY carefully before installing it.

 

[tdskip]

Yeah, I hear you Paul. Pulling the top cover don't tell too much so bit of a crap shoot still...

 

[tr8todd]

The two main things you can check in a used box without pulling it apart are shaft play and fluid. Drain the fluid and have a good look at the magnetic drain plug. Fill with close to two quarts of that Pennzoil synchromesh tranny fluid(same stuff as the higher priced GM synchromesh). Shake the input shaft and check the front bearings for play. It should have very little play. This is always the first thing to fail on well cared for boxes. The sycros fail on ones that see track days or just crazy gear slamming drivers. Check the front seal and replace if you can. I've seen several fail and leak enough fluid to cause catastrophic bearing failure in the tranny. Usually happens on long highway runs. Make sure you change the shifter bushings before it goes back in. Check the flywheel over for stress cracks. Make sure you change over the speedo gear, shifter platform, the clutch pivot pin, and bearing release collar. They are all different TR7 to TR8 and made from unobtanium. One more thing. There are differences in the gear boxes. Early five speeds had smaller main shaft bearings and are weaker than the later TR7 and all TR8 boxes. Check the number on the box and look it up. You should try to stay away from the early boxes unless that is your only option. On the bright side, as awful as it will seem pulling the tranny the first time, it will go much smoother and quicker the second time if needed. I was able to do them in the race car in well under 2 hours. The last one I did on my buddies street car took closer to 10, because everything I pulled apart needed extra attention. There was a mismatch of TR7 and TR8 shifter and clutch pivot pieces that needed to be straightened out. Hydraulics needed rebuilding, and that huge exhaust was in my way. Add to that, the owner of the car wanted to "help".

 

[tdskip]

Thanks Todd

 

[cheseroo]

FWIW, I have a gearbox for one of those. I was going to donate it as a Rover spare. I've earned enough brownie points that Spank will cage it for us for the cost of tubing.

 

[tdskip]

LeMons SD1, here we come!