T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

so yes, it wont go in all the way, about 3/8 left. Been messing with it for a while tonight and decided to give up for the evening. I tried to find something through search, but not quite. I know this is usually the time when people try to pull the trans together with the mount bolts and break stuff, but i know better, lol.

whats it hanging up on? I cant for the life of me figure out what, i've measured distances to everything and all seems fine? I can manhandle the trans every which way, spin it, and everything and it will not go in the rest of the way.

thanks!

-Phil

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

Put it up in there, and put in all 4 bolts FINGER TIGHT.

Fully assemble the entire clutch hydraulics and everything, to where all of that is as ready to go as it can be.

Have somebody sit in the car and push the clutch pedal while you get up under it and wiggle the trans in. Wiggle it one way, and tighten whatever bolts doing that to it loosens up FINGER TIGHT, then warp it the other way and tighten those FINGER TIGHT, and so on, until it's up in there.

You're exactly right about trying to "draw" it in with the bolts: DON'T. Bad idea.

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

hmmm. I will give that a try. i dont have the hydraulics in yet since i have to repair a butchery done by the installer of the car alarm system years and years ago. Drilled a 1" hole in the firewall right where one of the clutch master cylinder mount holes is supposed to be....ugg.

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

I'm doing my swap tomorrow, nothing like hearing about more potential complications the day before battle...

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

Yes to what sofakingdom said, BTDT. The issue is the plastic clutch alignment tools. They aren't accurate enough to get the disc dead on center. So pushing in the clutch for that last bit does the trick. Sometimes don't need someone to hold the clutch in either.

Just push down the pedal once or twice then wiggle the trans in that last bit.

Never had this issue when using a real input shaft from a blow'd up tranny to center the disc.

RBob.

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

So basicly the issue is the clutch disc is slightly misaligned, so the pilot on the end of the input shaft is binding in the pilot bushing and against the input shaft splines.

Ok, got it. I'll finish up the hydraulics then try again.

Thanks guys, I kinda figured this was the problem but I was not sure. Didn't have this problem with my tko swap a couple years back.

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

Yup if its not going in that last 3/8" then its getting hung up on the pilot bearing. Once you get the clutch hooked up and someone to push it in for you it should slide right into place.

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

Fourth sentence: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/post...327-post4.html

With that, I have never had to release the clutch in order to finish placing the maindrive shaft into the disc & pilot.

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

got it together today, but it was not smooth. With the clutch pushed in, i was able to wiggle the trans back and forth a bit, and slowly got it to go together. Kinda has me concerned, but i guess i'll see once the car is all back together, which wont be for a few more weeks yet at the earliest

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

Did the block get align bored (mains) ?

-- Joe

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

I'm pulling the 5 speed on our 89 RS now. The book calls for removing the torque arm, which calls for removal of the rear springs. From the looks of it, I can pull the transmission back far enough to get it out of the way without removing the torque arm. Am I missing something?

John

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

I've always done mine on a lift with the suspension hanging, so I don't know what would happen with the wheels compressed. The torque arm might want to swing down?

But anyway, if the axle is dangling unloaded, just unbolt the bracket on the tailshaft of the transmission and gently allow the torque arm to rest against the floor of the car.

-- Joe

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

Thats the way ive always done it as well. Ive never removed the torque arm. I just unbolted it from the trans and let it rest against the floor.

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

That's how it looks to me too. Thanks for the replies.

John

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

missed this, but no, its a stock 3.1, never been opened AFAIK

Re: T5 wont go into bellhousing all the way.
 

I have changed clutches on third gens many times over the past 20 years, and it's always a lot of futzing around to get the trans seated on the bellhousing.


Today junior and I used the method above. Called Mom out to the garage to apply the clutch and the trans just fell flush right into the bellhousing.


Thanks for another great tip, sofa!