Engine is out, what should I replace?

gmoney5427 · Post by **gmoney5427** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:29 pm

Can anyone help a "newbie" and suggest anything else we should do to the engine while we have it out of the car? My father-in-law (a mechanic), my uncle (a body man), and I (a tech director/electrician) have been restoring a '78 spider from the ground up for 2 years now. Only thing left is engine, tranny, and exhaust. Engine ran great when we took it out and tranny popped out of first quite often. As far as the engine, due to what i've read we will be replacing the clutch, valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, timing belt, tensioner bearing, aux seal, distro seal, front and rear crank seals, besides repainting everything I can. Basically a "pseudo" rebuild. Already replaced fuel lines, water pump, air filter, fuel filter, and plug wires. Also removed smog system.

baltobernie · Post by **baltobernie** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:53 pm

With the engine removed, you have easy access to the steering box and idler. Service and adjust per the manual. Of course replace the front and rear main engine seals, too. Make sure you get the correct size, there are tiny differences between years. Don't forget the rubber boot on the trans housing covering the throwout lever. Inspect and replace if necessary rubber engine mounts, as well as donut and center bearing. Inspect firewall for fatigue where the clutch cable enters.

Fi8spider · Post by **Fi8spider** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:02 pm

Ahh you sound like a seasoned pro there baltobernie! All very good tips.

Regarding the tranny popping out of first, have you isolated what the issue was?

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:28 am

most issues with popping out of gear are from worn shift forks. they have soft pads on the ends of the fork that ride in a slot. these pads wear from the driver resting his hand on the gearshift lever while driving. Definitely worth looking at those while the tranny is out of the car. wouldnt hurt to look at the condition of the synchos while in there.

gmoney5427 · Post by **gmoney5427** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 6:32 am

Thank you all! We have not torn into the tranny yet but shift forks, synchro sleeves, and synchro rings will all be checked and replaced as necessary. Thank you for verifying the shift fork is usually the culprit!...I hope that's all it is...

GeorgeT · Post by **GeorgeT** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:28 am

You may want to replace the oil pump while the motor is out.

Fi8spider · Post by **Fi8spider** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:27 am

GeorgeT wrote:You may want to replace the oil pump while the motor is out.

Oil pump? These pumps have been known to run beautifully for a couple hundred miles easy. The ones I know of being replaced were because they were damaged by something hitting the sump hard enough to break the pick up.

BTW, With regards to the tranny popping out of first gear, heres a funny one. I do recall a customers car years back, a 124 coupe, that would pop out of 5th. After some questions we figured out that some interior work was carried out and not replaced correctly. It ended up being the gear lever fouling on the console shroud (inner ring and boot).
Silly but it happened.

Engine is out, what should I replace?

Engine is out, what should I replace?

Re: Engine is out, what should I replace?

Re: Engine is out, what should I replace?

Re: Engine is out, what should I replace?

Re: Engine is out, what should I replace?

Re: Engine is out, what should I replace?

Re: Engine is out, what should I replace?