<VV> clutch job- Dave Thompson

[Ray Rodriguez III]

Dave,

     Thanks for the write up.  I actually did remove and install the 
drivetrain in my 65' Corsa once already.... it wasnt all that bad a job but 
I hated bolting that crossmember back to the bottom.. into the aluminum... 
it was hell to get it lined up and I was terrified of damaging the aluminum 
case...  I was hoping to avoid that part.  Also I had a hell of a time 
getting something lined up at the wheel end of the axles... the universals 
maybe?  That would probably have been no trouble at all if I had waited for 
an available helper.. but I was impatient as usual.

Ray




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Thompson" <dave.thompson at verizon.net>
To: "'Ray Rodriguez III'" <grymm at echoes.net>; "'VirtualVairs AA'" 
<VirtualVairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 9:12 PM
Subject: RE: <VV> clutch job: remove the drivetrain the conventional way or 
engine only?


>
> Ray,
> Several months ago I was asked by an elderly gentleman in our chapter to
> help him out with his Loadside. He thought his trans had failed. He wanted
> me to replace it for him. I had never removed a drive train before. But I
> dove into it.
>
> Starting at 8:00am one Saturday, I jacked the truck up and slid under. By
> 11:00 the entire drive train was on the floor using only one standard 
> floor
> jack. A custom bracket or fixture on the jack would have been nice but I
> used what I had.
>
> Once the drive train was on the floor, we realized that it was a 3-speed 
> and
> he had a replacement 4-speed. We made a parts list and I left at about 
> noon.
>
> The following weekend, I returned with a new input shaft and trans
> crossmember at 8:00am. He had gotten the other parts on the list. I
> separated the 3-speed from the diff only to find that the input shaft had
> sheared. I then removed the diff from the engine and found that the input
> shaft had sheered at the point of the clutch splines. It looked like it 
> had
> twisted apart. I re-assembled the engine, diff and "new" trans together on
> some blocks. I then put the floor jack under them jacked them of the 
> blocks
> and pulled the drive train under the Loadside. After a bunch of pulling,
> wiggling, blood letting and some fowl words, I was able to get the drive
> train into place, all by my self. After that I simply bolted everything 
> back
> together and ended up with no extra hardware that was not accounted for 
> (we
> replaced a few bolts).
>
> When the wheels of the Loadside were lowered to the ground, I looked at my
> watch and it was 2:00pm. Another hour or two of top of engine and fuel 
> work
> and we drove it around the block. All was well except a minor clutch
> adjustment.
>
> After doing this job, I recommend the following. Remember, this was my 
> first
> time.
>
> 1. Have some help
> 2. Pull the entire drive train. I would not want to try to align the 
> clutch
> "system" while the trans/diff was in the vehicle and the engine was on a
> floor jack.
> 3. Closely inspect the clutch "system" for wear. It is apart, might as 
> well
> replace things now.
> 4. Replace the pilot bushing.
> 5. Replace the axle seals
> 6. Inspect and or replace the rubber trans crossmember mounts.
> 7. Study the correct manual first. I only had a 61 car manual to refer to.
>
> This is the advice of a first timer, on a Loadside. It was a big job but I
> was able to do it in about 1-1/2 days, alone. Others may have different
> advice for a LM and with more experience.
>
> Good luck, let us know how it went.
>
> Dave Thompson
> Westminster, CA
>
>