I am a new Miata owner.

Replacing a five speed with a six speed.

I have researched the threads. Some say pull engine and tranny. Some say do it with the engine in place.

My question for your vote. For those who have actually replaced a clutch or transmission. If you did it again would you:

Pull the engine and transmission?

Replace the clutch or transmission with the engine in place?

What would YOU do??

 

I've done it with the engine still in the car, on jack stands. It went ok. The next time I do it, I'm pulling everything out at once though.

 

I've done it on a hoist in the air with air tools and jacks, etc. If I didn't have access to a full shop I'd pull the whole thing. In a garage it's easier.

 

Same. Bench pressing a tranny ain't fun, just pull the whole thing.

 

More info:

I will be doing this in a garage with a car lift and a 25 year experienced and certified mechanic who has unfortunately not done a Miata.

Please keep replying. Nothing replaces experience.

 

In a proper garage, with a two-post lift *and* a transmission jack, I'd go ahead and leave the engine in.

At home, with jackstands, I will never again pull a transmission separately form the engine. Been there, done that.

 

I can't imagine any reason to pull the entire engine out. With a lift it is a total no brainer. On the ground you definitely need a transmission jack with wheels, I tried to bench it up and it's really not feasible and a regular floor jack has the transmission too unwieldy. I got one at harbor freight and it made putting it back on super easy. As long as he has a transmission jack, it should be a total piece of cake with a lift. It's not a hard job and pulling the engine isn't going to save you any time or stress, it's just going to add it.

 

Its way easier with the engine out.. Its only two motor mounts, a few wires and hoses more and so much easier than crawling around under the car the whole time.

 

I vote for engine in the car. YMMV

 

I would think you would want to defer to their preference.

For just the clutch/transmission, I have not pulled the engine for the simple fact that hoses and electrical connections may be in unknown condition on older cars. If you are replacing radiator/heater hoses (or anything else) along the way, you might as well pull everything.

donour

 

I have done it both ways, many times. It is faster if you leave the engine in the car, even if the car is on jackstands. And I mean by a long shot.

 

deadlifting a tranny into place isn't any easier.





doing a transmission clutch is a two hour job if you're a Boostin' Banger. Pulling the motor... HA, I scoff at you all. I bite my thumb in your general directions.







Engine-pulling clutch-jobers:



take your tutu off and put on a pair of big boy pants. Hell, team Boosting Bangers is going to help crew a Chumpcar this summer, we've debated swapping the trans when no one is looking...just because we can.

 

Leave the engine in.

 

+1. I can see debating whether it's easier to pull the motor with the transmission or without the transmission. But when you're talking about swapping a clutch it's MUCH easier to just drop the tranny. As long as you've got several feet of extensions and a u-joint socket you can get it out of there pretty quick.

 

I've done it a few times at a shop with a lift/tranny jack/right tools (long extension and swivel sockets), and only had issues once. Knowing now how silly simple it is to yank the engine with the trans attached, I would probably do it that way in the future.

 

Go to harbor freight and spend the $40 on a transmission jack. Put a jack under the front of the oil pan to keep the engine at the correct angle. Unbolt the trans and pull it back and lower it on the trans jack. Replace the clutch, raise trans and slide it back in. Seriously with a trans jack and the proper extensions it is a piece of cake with the engine in the car.

 

I remember one of the biggest headaches I ever had was trying to mate a trans to my motor on the floor of my garage.

I'd much rather do a trans swap on jackstands without a tranny jack then attempting that fiacso again.

 

This.

I did it with no transmission jack, just with a regular jack and a block of wood, and it was a royal pain. If you need to drill/tap the pain or do an oil pan gasket because your motor is old, you're better off pulling the whole thing anyway.

 

I'm making a note of who the pussies/feeble mechanics on this site are.

 

A lot of you guys are forgetting how much needs to be done to remove the engine and tranny together. There is just no comparison on which method is best.

I would suggest locking this thread to save you guys the embarrassment of discussing this any more.