Mate has a MX5 with a juddery clutch - how hard is taking the gearbox out? is it an engine out jobbie?

Cheers

Mooky

You don't need to take the engine out, its relatively easy, but you will need to get the car up high, lift is best, failing that some very tall stands.

Basically you first remove the gearstick from the top,

Remove the exhaust from the downpipe backwards (its possible without doing this but really fiddly)

Then you need to remove the prop shaft, drain the gearbox first, and the PPF (its possible just to leave the ppf attached at the rear.

Disconnect wiring from gearbox, speedo and reverse switch.

Remove the bellhousing bolts, these need some very long extensions and a UV joint, and some plasters for your knuckles, they are on FT, and you end up winding up the UV joint until the bolt comes loose or the socket slips.

Its not that heavy, but ideally two people need to lift it back on.

Takes me about an hour and a half normally. Whilst you have the gearbox off, make sure you replace the crank seal, and spigot bearing as those tend to fail around the same time as the clutch.

I should add, make sure you loosen off the filler plug for the gearbox oil before you've put it back on the car, space is limited and it tends to rust solid. I haven't had to remove the gearbox again, but did have to make some pretty interesting looking spanners in order to get the leverage.

Thanks Mate