MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - pulling engine W/O rivergate and datsun tranny ???

well,


The engine is ready to come out...I ran out of day light so looks like a saterday pull and disassembly

My plan is to pull just the engine and leave the datsun/rivergat kit behind, considering how bad that was going in. everything is unbolted and un hooked. On the transmission I took out the 2 screws that bolt thur the crossmember, But left the rivergate subplate(the plate that tears the meat off your hands and has the rubber mounting blocks that you got to wedge in after the tranny is in place...yeah that nightmare piece of trash)


So here is my question...do "I HAVE" to pull the rivergate subplate...Id really like to leave it in place so I can rebolt the tranny back down with out alot of hassle trying to line it back up

My fear is I got to remove it to get enough clearance to get the engine/tranny high enough to clear the front crossmember at the crankshaaft pully inorder to split the tranny from the engine


anyone pulled just the engune and left the datsun tranny before and know what Im talking about, Cause I sure hope Im not the first here on this BBS forum....

I really dont want to pull the engine and tranny at the same time after installing it that way just a year ago. after all Im not like "Rich Amos", I still need my skin, blood, and "Fingers". LOL

thanks

prop
Prop

I guess my main issue is finding enough clearance at the rear of the engine and transmission so I can jack the front of the engine up inoreder for the crankshaft pully to clear the front cross member and allow seperation between the engine and tranny.


thanks inadvance everyone

prop

71 midget 1275...datsun 5 spped tranny, rivergate kit.
Prop

I hope this works, since it would really make the engine installation easier. The only bad thing about the Rivergate kit is the installation in the trans tunnel.
My guess is that you would need to remove the metal bracket on the trans just to give enough movement to allow angling in over the front crossmember.
An armchair guess,
BC
B C Hamper

Hey BC

Thats exactly my fear, If I can leave that bracket alone, then the re-installation of the engine will be a snap as the tranny is already in place and position, so all I would have to do is line up the 2 long screws on the crossmember that supports the rearend of the tranny.


prop
Prop

I have removed my 1500 with the stock trans. left behind. I recall the pulley was the tight spot but doable with the radiator removed. No experience with the Datsun box, but if you drop the prop shaft and wedge or wooden block the transmission tailshaft down (hopefully not ripping the mounts out) the engine might more easily slide forward and out. I have no experience with the Rivergate conversion so I am just guessing that above MIGHT work. M
Marc Judson (2- 1978's)

Prop:

I have a Rivergate in my street car. I cussed and fussed as you did in installing the lower tranny mount plate.

The last time I installed it, I got to thinking about all the Spridgets I have worked on which did not have the lower long bolts installed or the two side bolts. And- my race car with through the tunnel exhaust system and modified stock rear tranny mount has only one side bolt installed and has worked for years with no problem.

So, before I installed the lower plate(the rivergate subplate(the plate that tears the meat off your hands and has the rubber mounting blocks that you got to wedge in after the tranny is in place...yeah that nightmare piece of trash)), I cut off the two tabs for the side bolts and am using only the long lower bolts. The plate went in very easy. No problems yet after driving it for two months.

I am sure the Rivergate folks needed to over-engineer the mounts for liability issues and I'm not suggesting that anyone do as I did. But-

Cheers,

John
John Hewell

This thread was discussed between 01/10/2008 and 04/10/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.