Fitting the release bearing and bellhousing

Fitting the release bearing

The gearbox was lifted out of its box using the engine hoist. The hydraulic release bearing was located over the gearbox output shaft, with the outlets aligned with the slots in the gearbox. The release bearing was bolted in place with the two M6 set screws supplied. Both screws had locktite applied. The top hose is the bleed pipe.

Release bearing in place

The clutch release mechanism is a modified (by GD) hydraulic bearing, with braided hoses fitted. If a non-modified hydraulic bearing is used, you can't fit the braided hoses using the 90 degree connector!

To clear the hydraulic pipes, the gearbox holes needed opening out a little, so I used a burr in the drill to achieve this.

Slot opened a little in the gearbox

A SMALL amount (and I mean small, a smear is enough) of white pipe sealer (such as Loctite 572) is applied to the male end of the pipe fittings. As I didn't have any at the time, this delayed the mating with the engine.

Fitting the bell housing

The bellhousing was attached to the gearbox, using seven new high tensile bolts. These bolts were thread locked too.

Bellhousing attached to gearbox

The flexible hoses were still accessible to allow the Loctite 572 to be applied before the hoses were secured to the two outlets of the release bearing. This was important as the flexible hoses needed to be attached before the engine was fitted.

Next job is either to mate with the engine (if the 572 has arrived) or fit the propshaft.