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MG MGB Technical - Gearbox Crossmember

I have to remove both engine and gearbox from my 72 car. I have everything done apart from the gearbox crossmember.

Ive done the engine a few time with gearbox in situ, but as i have a problem with box its time to do both.

I can get the chassis bolts free, but how do i get to the bolts holding it to the gearbox, i cant seem to see a way?

I may have to do the hole drilling method otherwise, but before i do so any ideas?

Thanks Guys
whiskeyfrank

They are a real fiddle. Access is improved if you support the box on a jack, remove the 4 cross member bolts, and lower the whole assembly. Having the exhaust off helps too, but I assume that's out of the way anyway.
Allan Reeling

I didn't take mine off but have put it back on. By tilting the cross-member to one side using the flex in the mounts I could get a spanner on the nuts OK. It was quite straight-forward so I can't recall which spanner I had to use, or any other tricks being needed.

This may not be possible with new mounts, I've been told not to replace them unless they have parted as new ones are much harder in texture which makes getting the studs in the cross-member holes harder as well as tilting it.

I have to get the V8 gearbox out but am doing it engine first then gearbox rather than all together. In which case the gearbox with cross-member should slide out under the car.
paulh4

I took my engine out separately, then dropped the gearbox out the bottom.

When re-fitting, I considered putting them in as one unit, but seeing how hard it was to fit the crossmember and mounts, I opted to re-fit them the same way they came out.
Dave O'Neill 2

thanks, ill try dropping it again but seems to be stuck fast, if not ill try the engine and gearbox seperately
whiskeyfrank

"seems to be stuck fast"

What is 'stuck'?
paulh4

the bolts into the gearbox, but i think its just i cant get enough pressure on them to move, im going to try again tonight and will let you know
whiskeyfrank

I took mine off by removing the nuts from the mount studs that go through the cross-member bracket, leaving the mounts on the gearbox. That's what the hole in the cross-member gives access to, not the mount to gearbox bolts. The holes give you more 'swing' of course, info on those here http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/xmember.htm#

I can imagine that the nuts are seized to the studs, which means the mounts twists but just springs back. I had that on an RB engine mount and had to drill and pin the plate through the rubber and into the chassis bracket to hold it still. I doubt you can do that on the gearbox mounts meaning chiselling them off is perhaps the only option without drilling the holes in-situ.
paulh4

I did mine like paulh4! Definately would do it from now on....it makes the whole job way easier!

S

This thread was discussed between 18/11/2019 and 21/11/2019

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