hey all next weekend i should be doing an mx7 conversion to my vlt. in the past when i have changed gearboxes, i've done it with the motor in the car and lifted the gearbox up. i recently put an mf5 into an n/a and it was a real pain because we had to rotate the box and support it before it would slot in. with only 2 people and the car only a foot off the ground we struggled to get enough force on it to lift it up. autos are easy, i just jacked it straight up on 2 trolley jacks and pushed it on the motor... so thinking about it, it'd probably be almost quicker and not to mention easier to just take my whole motor/auto out, and swap the gearbox over while its out, then slot it all back in as one. for those of you that have removed/installed mx7's at home on axle stands, how did you do it? how many people did you have to help you lift it? thanks Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Natho don't take motor out that's just giving you more work to do! This conversion would be better if it was done on a hoist,I have done this conversion before it's really not that hard,It's pretty simple job if you got the right tool's and lending hand to help It's takes about 2 ppl to hold the MX7. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

yes its bloody tricky getting the manual gearbox's in, my previous owner had given the body a bit of a hammer job around the g/b well Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Ive had my box out tons of times Nath, catch me on MSN!

get a clutch allingment tool , and its pretty simple , leave the engine in.

Easy dude, with the engine in, all u got to do is turn it on its side so the starter motor housing lump part is facing down then use a jack to lift it, then get someone at the back someone at the front, push in...turn straight....wiggle little bit....one big push and in! if u want to make it even easier then remove the front pipe! Good luck mate! Brad

alright i get the idea its easy enough with the engine in i just found with the mf5 that since the car isnt very high, you cant strech your arms out while holding it, and as a result its quite tricky to hold it while you are trying to slot the input shaft in. i have a clutch alignment tool, gee they help a lot Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

You have to loosen off the front crossmember mounting bolts,undo the shaft from the steering column onto the steering rack,remove the tie rod ends from the strut tower assy's and totally remove the rear bolts on the crossmember after a jack has been placed underneath the crossmemberso you can slowly lower the motor & gearbox assy down,providing the rear crossmember has been undone. The only thing I found I had to do was push the box uphill,I made my own clutch aligning tool up. Doing it with the front crossmember bolted up is too difficult (i.e. lining up the input shaft to the clutch) because the bellhousing fouls on the floorpan. It is different when doing a whole conversion which can take a couple of days if you haven't done it before,it took me and my brother 8 hours to fit the twin cam 3 litre into my VL (including manual transmission) and fire it over,I used the above method to fit the box (after the motor had been fitted).

God damn thats the hard way to do it, it goes without 1/2 that work!

Quote: Originally Posted by RB30DEVL You have to loosen off the front crossmember mounting bolts,undo the shaft from the steering column onto the steering rack,remove the tie rod ends from the strut tower assy's and totally remove the rear bolts on the crossmember after a jack has been placed underneath the crossmemberso you can slowly lower the motor & gearbox assy down,providing the rear crossmember has been undone. The only thing I found I had to do was push the box uphill,I made my own clutch aligning tool up. Doing it with the front crossmember bolted up is too difficult (i.e. lining up the input shaft to the clutch) because the bellhousing fouls on the floorpan. It is different when doing a whole conversion which can take a couple of days if you haven't done it before,it took me and my brother 8 hours to fit the twin cam 3 litre into my VL (including manual transmission) and fire it over,I used the above method to fit the box (after the motor had been fitted). gee! So do we leave any part in the front of the car in tact? Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

do it with the engine in natho. just twist it so the starter part of the box is facing right. its easier if you loosen the engine mounts and raise the front of the engine (lower the back down) a bit. mark Some original photos have not been recovered yet.