clutch installation ordeal!!!!

I have now hit the hardest repair I've ever done. I really must be wimpy. I
have done 2 other clutch jobs that were childs play compared to this 89
Civic Hatchback.

Ever thing was not too bad(resurfaced the flywheel,replaced the real
seal)until I tried putting the transaxle back in. I spent 6 hours today and
it still isn't in. I am seriously considering grinding a quarter inch off
the metal frame ( just the lip-not structural part). I had 3 other guys
helping to lift, used a rolling jack and tried every way we thought possible
to get this thing in. Either gets hung up on the frame or wheel well. Can't
simply raise the tranny up and line it up.I'm having a real ordeal.
Would any one have any tips for a loser home mechanic trying to get a
transaxle back into an 89 Civic/hatch-5spd.??

thanks in advance.

Gary

 

mista bone would know.

 

the first thing you do when installing a clutch is try the disc on
the input shaft to make sure you have the right one. there are
different spline counts! then use a pilot tool to install it. the old
civic trannys pop right in.
Chip

 

On the 87 prelude, we had the front end 3 or more feet in the air,
and had someone guiding it from the top, and another guy on the
bottom with the trannie on his chest and pushing up, it
should go, just find the hole for the input shaft, then
line up the guide posts, and it should just click in.

I'm sure you may have tried that, but the key to the prelude
was that we had so much room underneath. (IE make sure
you raised the car high enough, it looked ridiculous, but it worked!)

Also, if you have the engine supported (we had it
winched up, becuase you need to in order to get the trannie
out), let the motor down a smidge, that might just give
you enough room to find what you need to.

email me if you have any other questions...

t

 

How is the engine supported???????
My home made tranny lift........

http://www.bettendorf.com/~mrbone/pictures/RR/ghettotrannylift.jpg

The piece of wood is from a 15" sub cutout and a simple bolt.

Remove saddle, bolt down the plate.

This assumes you have the clutch disc properly aligned.

I just did a clutch/tranny swap in 2.5 hours without using a lift.

http://www.bettendorf.com/~mrbone/pictures/Tranny-General/airfront.jpg

 

Uh, he apparently has the tranny back together but cannot install the transaxle...

 

the first thing you do when installing a clutch is try the disc on

yeah i got that part, like i said make sure it's the right disk.
he ndidn't say he had the tranny aprt, only replaced the clutch. but
if it's the wrong disk it won't work, or if it wasn't aligned right it
won't go.
you have to start with the basics.
a civic clutch should take no more than an hour to replace on
that vintage vehicle.
Chip