Help! I have more clutch slave cylinder questions.

[B-Doon]

As you probably know, I'm trying to swap my 4speed out. I have never done this before and I'm trying to do a little everyday. Today's Question. It's regarding the clutch slave cylinder. I have read all the archives on how to remove it, but none ot them mention the little actuating arm that comes out of the side of the tranny. is it attached to the tranny belhousing? I have allready disconnected the fluid line from the slave cylinder. can I drop the tranny now, or must I disconnect the arm somehow??? I don't want to find out that it is attached inside and have to wiggle the tranny out....I'd rather address the issue now...if it even is an issue...

Thanks for holding my hand through this!

BRian...in hell

[winstontj]

It's WAAAY easier than you're making it but the first time I did most of this stuff it was on a parts car that was #1. not a BMW and #2. it was on it's way to the junkyard so it was more fun than anything else.

You have your bolts from the block to the transmission. Maybe six of them off the top of my head... then don't forget about the metal cover at the bottom. There are like 4 or 5 (maybe more) little 10mm bolts that hold it on. I always forget that and you'll tear it up with the flywheel on the way out. Then you've got driveshaft, reverse light, clutch line and tranny mounts. Clutch is easy - buy a new line and cut, or loosen it.

Assuming exhaust is out of the way and your shift knob, and ctr. console is all out of the way.....

1. driveshaft

2. clutch line

3. reverse light

4. block to tranny bolts (start with the starter and remove the water bung that goes to intake manifold for the top one)

5. little metal cover plate

6. tranny mounts (loosen the mount AND the sides for the bracket)

I did mine by putting my feet forward and my head in the tunnel. Lay under the car with some corregated cardboard on your stomach. With your knees supporting the transmission and your hands pulling and lifting it will slide right out and land on your chest. It's a VERY light gearbox so it's not as stupid as it sounds....

HTH,

TJW

[winstontj]

If you don't want to take out the water nipple/bung that blocks access to the top starter bolt you can stick the biggest screwdriver you can find in there and wedge it between the nut and the block. Then take a 3/8" ratchet with a section of pipe and you can break it free from the bolt head side. This way you don't need to bleed green all over... but you'll be cursing your car when you go to put it back together because it's HARD to get the nut back on.

Just a tip!

[B-Doon]

I can't get it out....

everything is unbolted and it's almost out, but the top of the bell housing is caught on the firewall....i've been twisting and turning but no luck...I also could not get the shift tower arm off....The sliver vertical piece that sticks up into the cabin....what am I doing wrong?????????

[winstontj]

Do you have a fixed mount shifter support? You can pop the circlip pin where the shift rod comes out of the transmission. #4 comes off easy with a small awl/screwdriver, then slide out the pin. This will put slack in the shifter going up through the floor and allow you to drop the tranny. OR go at #'s 18-19-20 and take off the circlips on either side of #20, then pull up the shifter this will let you take it out as well.

As for the tranny catching up on the firewall, It may be time to pull your radiator - or at least put a few layers of cardboard, empty beer cases, pizza boxes, etc. between the fan and the radiator. You may have to rock the engine forward a little to get it out. Also TWIST... Once you have the shifter out twist the transmission. Looking at the guibo from behind, twist it counter-clockwise. Rotate towards the starter, brake booster, steering box, etc. This will move the hump where the starter/vin stamp is away from the firewall. Take a good look at your new transmission's bell housing and see where things are hanging up. #1. You're probalby not sliding it back/aft enough before trying to take it out, and #2, you're not twisting it enough.

Again,

HTH,

TJW