transmission install woes

[timspider]

I've got the long ones for the bottom but they are both different lengths, one is a full inch longer. I've got that long one on the drivers side. It seems to work fine, it just sticks through about an inch. I have the shorter one on the passenger side and that one sits perfectly in the hole, just about flush.
Looking at both of these, it seems like it doesn't matter where the long one goes, left or right.

my next issue is that 4th bolt on the upper driver side. I got it in the hole after about a half a day of puzzle figuring, and I even got a socket on it, and it turns! But it doesn't seem to bite, like it's either just a tiny bit off the hole or maybe that sheet metal piece is blocking it a little.

Loosening the other bolts today to see if I can get the tiny shift needed to get this last bolt seated. Hoping this one bolt won't take me a week, like most of the small details seem to. So far it's been 10 months to address the clutch, flywheel, and rebuilt tranny. If we got points for going slow, I'd be the big winner.

[timspider]

can't get that gd 4th bolt. damnit. guessing I have to remove whole transmission and start all over again.
that just added a tedious month to the process.
I think I need a better job so i can pay someone to deal with this- this is no longer fun- just straight frustration- months of it.

[azruss]

loosen the bellhousing bolts you already have in. wiggle the tranny back out so you have a 1/16" gap. jack the tranny to carry the weight and keep the alignment. wiggle the plate while you try to get the bolt in. try a different bolt, or clean up the starting thread on the bolt to see if you can get a start. It sounds like one of the bolts is not original.

[timspider]

I will try this- thank you.
I got both top bolts new- everything seated fine when I did a dry fit with just that sheet metal thing.
bottom bolts are very different length, but both thread in fine
and the new one on the upper passenger seated fine.

Heading out to barn armed with a little new knowledge- thanks again

[RoyBatty]

Hey Tim,
Nice job of not giving up.
Keep at it man.
Wouldn't mind stopping by to assist you if we lived closer to one another.

[timspider]

4th bolt is in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
all 4 bolts tightened. on to the the starter, which used to seem impossible- now I know it's just a puzzle waiting to be solved.

I know I tend to bitch and whine a bit but now is time for gratitude.
thank you azruss for loosening/wiggle/jack/align suggestion- that was the final note that got me home
thank you 76was124 for back end jack up suggestion and general encouragement- invaluable
thank you wizard for motor mounts suggestion- excellent
thank you Roy Batty for encouragement- hugely appreciated
thank you SoCal Mark for shifter removal suggestion- that was the only way to go, but I needed to hear it from a trusted source- and i know you are that.- awesome
and thank you everyone for putting up with my "oh poor me and my little car" whining, and getting me back on track.

And thank you to the forum- I owe you a donation- that'll be on the way as soon as my current project payment comes in.

[76was124]

Even I am starting to get excited to see how close you are to being on the road!!!

Starter bolts are about feeling the holes....transmission hanging (fully bolted at the bell housing of course) which gives a little extra room. You may want to take a look from the engine bay with a small mirror, to see the holes, as I kept trying to put the bolt in a casting rib, vs a hole once.

Very good post with pictures regarding socket extensions etc. in the link below:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... lit=+Trans

[timspider]

Starter is in! Even the top bolt. Moving on to drive shaft and shifter re install

[timspider]

drive shaft in. ready to move in to shifter when I snapped the drivers side transmission cross member mounting stud off.
after briefly freaking out, quietly, a solution came to me that will not involve removing anything.
Getting drill now. I think this is ok.
This car is a test, correct?
enjoy your day

[76was124]

This car is a test, correct?

How'd the final exam go?

[76was124]

Remove duplicate

[timspider]

so far I'm failing the final exam miserably and starting to think I just made a mistake on the clutch install. I can't see how as it is mind blowingly simple, but apparently I figured out a way to make this even more expensive and time consuming.
motor running well but after 3 days of fiddling with the clutch pedal and forked lever, I'm getting close to exhausting my options.
I probably need to remove this transmission again and re do everything I've done for the past year.
Since I don't currently have the stomach for that, I think I'll get the car cover and just walk away from this until I have saved up enough to have a professional fix it.

[timspider]

Here is a lousy video, complete with my wheezing butt trying to wedge itself into the drivers footwell, in an attempt to show the top of the clutch pedal travelling. Not sure what else to do at this point. I guess i need to start saving money for this again.

http://vid867.photobucket.com/albums/ab ... 0wztcx.mp4

[timspider]

update- I had the pressure plate in backwards.
so don't do that unless you have lots of time and money to spend and no interest in driving your car.

[seabeelt]

Good job. Things get easier over time, especially if you do them more than once. Now on to that wiring