I think I'm ready to lift out the engine after a little frustration trying to remove the engine mount bolts. One side was easy but somebody has but longer than average bolts in the other side and they'd jam up as I got closer to the end of the thread. Couldn't get a wire brush near it so I soaked it in WD40 a couple of times and finally got them off, what a bastard took about an hours work on each bolt and another hour to do everything else!

I'm going to borrow a friends engine hoist tomorrow then start pulling the gearbox off, then its off to get a diagnosis on why it whines.

Am I going to need a flywheel puller or any other special tools for removing the box?

Let you know how it progresses.

Yep, you will need a flywheel puller to get the flywheel off, then some 1/2 & 7/16 sockets & spanners will be all you need to seperate engine & box.

Doogie

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I won Hay once, here's the pic to prove it..


Hay, it's not about the car, it's not about the venue, it's about the people that come here. Peter Dwyer, Mayor of Hay NSW.

Do you need a special 'mini' flywheel puller or will a generic one do.

I was hoping Doogie would answer this for you as he is a mechanic and knows every bolt in a mini.

However... Generic pullers may work but a specific mini flywheel puller makes it just so more easy. You just tighten the pressure on the crankshaft against the flywheel and ultimately the flywheel just comes adrift.

See is someone on here and near you has one they are willing to lend or hire or even help you get it off.

If you can make a fly-wheel puller, the good doc. has put the instructions in the "How To" section. Check it out.

You have to get the fly-wheel off so you can get the clutch housing off, which you have to get off if you want to seperate the engine from the gear-box.

A little tip - get nuts welded on to the engine mounts - makes that particular job so much easier.

See ya

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Rod
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v607/Rodney/

Somebody had tack welded one nut in place but the weld gave way and made it nearly impossible to get a spanner on

It's a good idea but they'll need to be welded good and proper for frustration-free engine removal.