1968 Remove shifter from transmission
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
1968 Remove shifter from transmission
I am replacing the clutch on my '68 smallblock and about to remove the transmission. When removing the shifter arms should I do it by taking out the clip or by unscrewing the bolt attached to the transmission housing?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
There are probably some that have pulled the bellhousing and trans as a unit. Personally, my opinion is that unless you remove the engine or take sawzall and cut the crossmember, it's not going to happen. As you pull the trans away from the bellhousing you have to roll it so it will go back into the tunnel far enough the input shaft clears the back of the bellhousing. It "might" go back far enough to clear the clutch with the bell still attached, but it's going to be hard to handle and near impossible to stab back in. And I wouldn't touch a bet on if the bell will go back that far.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 154
support the engine with a jack under the oil pan (use a piece of wood on jack to disperce the weighton the oil pan) this way if the input of the trans does not clear the bellhousing you can jack the engine up a tad so it will clear.Do not trust the jack to keep the engine up,block the engine up with wood,if the jack loses pressure over a couple days while you work on the car,you will break your dizzy cap(at the least)
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,412
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
A little FYI is that the shift levers on the 68 are a little different than those of the 69 and up...this caused me a lot of grief.
Replacing the clutch/removing the transmission. I'm really impressed by people laying under the car, moving the engine a little forward, moving the trannie back, removing the bellhousing, etc, stc. I absolutely cannot do this. I just use an engine hoist and remove the complete engine/bellhouse/trannie stack from the car, and then after replacing the clutch, etc, I then replace the entire stack back into the car. For my 68, I now have a removable crossmember. I think that by removing the crossmember, I can now do clutch maintenance much easier.
Replacing the clutch/removing the transmission. I'm really impressed by people laying under the car, moving the engine a little forward, moving the trannie back, removing the bellhousing, etc, stc. I absolutely cannot do this. I just use an engine hoist and remove the complete engine/bellhouse/trannie stack from the car, and then after replacing the clutch, etc, I then replace the entire stack back into the car. For my 68, I now have a removable crossmember. I think that by removing the crossmember, I can now do clutch maintenance much easier.
