Transmission rebuild

[RRoller123]

What was your sequence to get the gearbox out?

[ORFORD2004]

What about the bearing that fall apart?

[rjkoop]

What about the bearing that fall apart?

I assume you mean the bearing in this picture?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17ism5F ... sp=sharing

The inner and outer metal spacer (the weird corrugated metal thin pieces) on the bearing popped out. Looks like they just pop back in to separate the bearings from each other?

Richard

[rjkoop]

What was your sequence to get the gearbox out?

You mean out of the car initially? I basically followed other peoples advice on this board. Driveshaft disconnect from guibo, various bolts in weird hard to get at locations, removed starter, disconnected reverse indicator wire and clutch, removed center console and metal cover from inside the car, and slid tranny back while lowering.

To get the gearbox apart I used this guide.

https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/f ... s/toc.html

Everything seemed to be mentioned in the disassembly guide except a few of the snap rings to get the bearings out.

Hopefully getting it back together, if I'm methodical, will go smoothly. Lots of opportunity for error but I hope the assembly manual will make things obvious. Right now all the parts are scaring the crap out of me!

Richard

[ORFORD2004]

I don't think that it's suppose to fall apart. Why don't you go see a bearing place with it?

[RRoller123]

Thanks, RJ. Curious how high up the car had to be put. Regular stands enough? Or use a lift?

[rjkoop]

Thanks, RJ. Curious how high up the car had to be put. Regular stands enough? Or use a lift?

I used plastic/PVC car ramps (jack stands always freak me out a bit) under each wheel and that was enough space to do the work. Once the transmission was removed I jacked up the front and slid it out the front of the car under the oil pan.

[DieselSpider]

Thanks, RJ. Curious how high up the car had to be put. Regular stands enough? Or use a lift?

I used plastic/PVC car ramps (jack stands always freak me out a bit) under each wheel and that was enough space to do the work. Once the transmission was removed I jacked up the front and slid it out the front of the car under the oil pan.

Understand that consternation as I had someone bump a 69 Sedan DeVille off the jack stands while I was under it and fortunately the Williams Wrench I had in my hand was just long and strong enough to keep the car off of me while I slid out. Thankfully the concrete slab held up but there was a good sized dimple in the frame of the car where the wrench handle made contact. Having almost 3 tons of car come so close to compacting me was a bit unnerving to say the least.

[RRoller123]

Yes, that is exactly the part that scares me. I may just have a local garage remove it on a lift. Not sure yet. It needs an input shaft bearing.

Any trouble with the shifter? I assume it has to be removed. Getting it back on is a terror. Might be time to just engineer a new attachment method. Always irritated me that it rotates. Silly.

[tima01864]

I will give you a hand with it. Better you do it yourself or find a Fiat mechanic. I have done this before, But I removed the engine seemed hard to get out without a transmission jack.

[RRoller123]

Thanks, it is far down the list of things to get done, but after the shop construction is finished, I may take you up on that!

[tima01864]

I was much younger then.

[rjkoop]

Finally working on transmission rebuild. So far... so good. Have the main shaft assembly and input shaft assembly in. Most things are obvious but there are definitely some subtleties which especially the direction of some things. Also on the main shaft assembly (where you insert one of the shafts into the other and there is a bearing race (right term?) I notice a bit of in and out play when I pull on either shaft (maybe 1/8"). Maybe just because things aren't 100% tight and together yet?

I'm going off the mirafiori transmission rebuild guide.

https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/f ... s/toc.html

And this guide.

http://ladaniva.co.uk/baxter/resources/ ... sembly.pdf

The 5th and reverse gears are getting a bit hairy. There is mention of 4 spacers...

https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/f ... age38.html

...but they don't say exactly which ones and I think I'm 1 or 2 spacers short. Maybe the guide is slightly different than my 1981 gearbox.

Anyone have any better transmission rebuild guides for an 1981? Or a link to a bunch of pictures fo an '81 that are better than mine? Here are mine.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

I'll take a closer look at my pictures and hopefully I can figure it out.

Richard

[rjkoop]

What is the washer/spacer at this moment in the video?

https://youtu.be/jjhumbJglS8?t=436

The only thing I have that fits on the shaft is a spring washer. Is that correct?

The more I get into this rebuild the more I think someone already rebuild it and it wasn't redone correctly! I don't have a number of parts that are in this diagram!

https://www.middlebartongarage.com/Imag ... xtpage.jpg

Richard

[rjkoop]

Emailed autoricambi where I bought the rebuild parts and they straightened me out. Those guys are amazing! Here's the email for others benefit...

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My email...

Guys,
I'm in the process of rebuilding my '81 Fiat Spider 5 speed transmission. I got a bunch of parts to rebuild it from you guys which are great and fit perfectly. Have the main shaft and countershaft done in the main unit. No issues at all. But I noticed that when I'm putting the 5th and reverse parts on the main and counter shafts according to this guide...

https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/f ... age38.html

... I'm missing a few spacers that go on the reverse gear assembly on the main shaft (#15, #18 and #22 on the link above - different sized diameters) and a few spacers on the countershaft (#9 and #11 on the link above) . I'm thinking someone rebuild this transmission before and didn't rebuild it with all the proper spacers.

Any idea where I can get these items? I couldn't find them on your website. Or if you have the diameters/widths (or a link to where I could find them) maybe I could buy them somewhere locally? Or just use a number of washers to make up the thickness which I'd rather not do. Not sure. Looking for your advice.

Their reply...

Most of those spacers are part of the bearings. The one between the middle bearing and the reverse gear on the main shaft is a conical washer.

I do not think the transmission would have worked previously without those washers.
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I went back and check and I have everything I need! But I have 2 extra spacers/washers. So I think I have to start over remove the main and counter shaft bearings. There was a bit of movement and I think I think they are missing off the inside of the bearing.

Richard