Engine Removal on 1980 mini

[BamaToy]

Hey guys, my engine finally needs  to be replaced. I have a donor truck that is also a 1980 model 4x4 with a nice running engine and the clutch works good. I have been trying to seperate the replacement engine from its transmission by leaving the trans in the vehicle just sitting on the jack.  Everything is out of the way, i took the starter and slave cylinder off, unbolted the bellhousing from the engine, i could not get it to seperate. I then just bolted it back up and brought the engine trans and case as a unit out of the truck. I have managed to separate the the bellhousing from the engine by about and inch, and it was from prying the hell out of it with some friends. I can't seem to get it the rest of the way out. Can some of you guys help me with some good suggestions? Am I missing something? All the gearheads I know say the same thing after looking at it, "It should separate". Please , I need some suggestions, as this is my daily driver. Thanks

[BLACKDOG]

keep prying.  I had to do the same with mine, and it took a while.  I left my trany in the truck, and rocked the engine out, once it was disconnected form everything.  goodluck

[derek]

did you undo the little bolts at the bottom of the bell housing that bolts the cover plate on?
i forgot those once and it would only spread about an inch.

derek

[BamaToy]

Yes, it is out of the truck so i have a 360 degree view, it is coming out evenly, nothing external is holding it, do ya think it is just rust on the input shaft?

[BLACKDOG]

could be Try putting a couple of dowels on either sideof the engine, and wigling them front and back.  Use a broom stick or something, not metal so you dont trash the edges of the mating surfce

[kyle_22r]

long handled prybar is your friend here.  when pulling the engine from my '79 the engine plate and bellhousing seemed to be fused together and had to be pried apart.

[BamaToy]

Thanks guys, I'll just keep on trying to pry it out. Knowing you guys had similar experiences, makes me feel a little bit better about it. Thanks again. Lock and Roll !!!!!

[BigMike]

You know, a long time ago at the shop I remember a story that relating to this.. We installed a clutch and put a new rebuilt transmission on and then we realized that we left the new pilot out. So of course we needed to pull the trans back out and remove the clutch and then replace the pilot bearing..

Well it turns out that the old pilot was rusted badly and the new transmission input somehow got stuck in there. It was like some rust grit got over the input, and since Marlin only uses good inputs, it kinda pressed itself in really hard and the grit must have been wedged in there and locked the input to the pilot. I think the worker (no longer works for us ) had used air and just forced the belhousing together.

Anyways we had to get Marlin's truck and we somehow routed his winch cable, I think to the rear output flange of the t/case, I'm not sure because I was out at the time, but it took a lot of work from the winch and then it went BOOM! and came apart. Surprisingly the input was just fine and was verified with a mic to be the same as before.

Strange occasion but it happened.

Hope your's comes out easier than this one!

BigMike

[BamaToy]

Thanks  Big Mike. I just got it separated !! It took a chain around the transfer case, a tree with a tow strap, and a hand puller!!! It took some prying even doing that, but when it let go, BOOOM!!! just like Big Mike said. Looks like a rusted input shaft and out of line clutch disc. Just looked inside and did not see a pilot bushing Anyway, thanks for  everyones help. Later guys!!