Bellhousing Removal Help

seaboltman · 08-24-2005, 10:01 AM

Ok well guys i took the engine out of the 87 i have listed in my profile and heres the problem

I need to get this thing onto an engine stand so i can work on it and what not, but the clutch release lever wont let go so i can take the bellhousing off. I did a search and it didnt help me much. i took a picture of the bellhousing, and i believe that the red circled area right about the starter is where theres a bolt i need to remove, but theres no head to the bold, its "filled" almost like the head broke off? Or am i wrong. Someone car to explain (useing the picture i post would be awesome if you want to "show" me what to do. Thanks

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Reach trough the starter hole and take out the nine bolts holding the pressure plate to the flywheel.

IceShark · 08-24-2005, 10:32 AM

I don't see any circle in your pic, but I'm pretty sure you are talking about the clutch fork pivot shaft. That gets stuck pretty tight on many cars. Between Rennlist and Pelican there are many threads on problems with this.

Remove the locking bolt on the bellhousing that goes into a grove in the shaft. You will see a threaded hole in the end of the pivot shaft, I believe it is 8mm. That is your key to pulling it out. There are a bunch of solutions but the best two are: get a long threaded 8mm rod and make a slide hammer out of it. Other way is get some bits like sockets and washers that will fit over the shaft diameter and crank an 8mm bolt into the thread and pull the shaft out as you tighten.

I think the slide hammer idea is the best. I didn't do this myself when I replaced the clutch as I could't find a hardware store that had 8mm threaded rod. Just don't bugger up the threads in the pivot rod, then you are in for more money and headache.

If you do bugger up things you can revove the whole works if you go though the starter and inspection holes and remove the 9 triple square bolts that hole the pressure plate to the flywheel. Then you can work on the inside to get the pivot shaft out.

ae1969 · 08-24-2005, 10:51 AM

Slide hammer works........... but I used a 10 pound one........

UNBELIEVEABLE how stuck it gets.

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Once you take off the bell housing with the clutch fork, TO bearing and pressure plate you can get at the fork from the inside.

seaboltman · 08-24-2005, 12:38 PM

thanks alot guys, i'll be getting it off tomorrow

Slam · 08-25-2005, 10:21 AM

There's an easier way than using a slide hammer. Directly opposite the bolt you're trying to remove there's a port or hole in the bellhousing. Insert a punch of some sort and drive the pin out from here - the back end. Saves alot of grief trying to thread a bolt into the pin and then trying to find room to yank it with a slide hammer.