I chickened out......

[Florida240sx]

Went as far as having my car on jackstands and was gathering tools. Buit changed my mind abotu doign my clutch myself.Through my dad's contacts I can get it done for 150-200 so I can't argue with that. Besides I can spend this time to clean up my garage so it would of been easier. I know I could do it but I had noone to help me which is why I decided to not to. Was this a stupid idea?I def need someone there in case transmission falls.But seems it's pretty straightforward which is what I remember but would prefer to refresh my memory before doing it again. What would yall of done? Get it boosting tonight with possibility of you messing up ornot hvign a tool.Or pay $150 for a mechanic to do it and if anything goes wrong it falls back on him.(rps 400ftlb clutch )Next week clutch will be in by tuesday, then wednesday/thursday I'll be getting exhaust on it.Then mbc,btm,boost gauge(I'm an idiot), and tomei 555cc injectors. (FRIDAY)

[wilfonzo]

depends if you have health insurance

[98s14inaz]

You don't need more than one or two people to get the transmission off the car. You will however need at least three to get it back in. It is a real pain in the a$$ to line up especially with stiff engine mounts.

BTW: I have the same rps max clutch, you will love it

[Titan]

You don't need more than one or two people to get the transmission off the car. You will however need at least three to get it back in.

No you don't. You can do it all yourself.

The only "friend" you need is a hydralic floor jack.

Use the jack to support the output end of the transmission while you wrestle with the input end.

With all the bolts undone, I had my transmission off in 5 minutes. After the new clutch was put on I had the transmission back up in 15 minutes.

I found the biggest problem to be getting to the bellhousing bolts, then again this is probably the 4th time I've pulled and installed a transmission.

[Florida240sx]

But it is so much easier to have someone moving the floorjack and handing you tools. Besides for $100+little odds and ends of grease and flywheel resurface you can't beat that. Gave them my rps 400ftlb clutch new pilot/throwout and 3 qts of redline gear oil told him 2.5.......

[DammitBobby]

The transmission is heavy if it falls on you something will break!! To me it is not worth risking back injury or some other injury. Doctor bills are not cheap!

[crzycav86]

Don't worry if you had a mechanic do it.

Changing the clutch isn't very easy, and from my experience, it would have been very very difficult for a first-timer to do it by himself.

[98s14inaz]

Just make sure if you have a mechanic change your clutch, you tell him to replace the pilot bushing and throwout bearing. In fact ask to see the ones they pulled out when they were done. I had a shop try to tell me that it wasn't neccessary. Fark that, last thing I want to do is pull everything apart if or when one of those two used items decides to go. prevention > cure

[Florida240sx]

I gave him the bag of new parts. They do a good job there. I'll know if he doens't replace the throwout bearing because the one in it sucked.It was making noise last year when my clutch was installed..still on the lift. Hope he doesn't test drive my baby KA-T.

[nissanfanatic]

I'd prolly rather pull the engine to replace my clutch. It gives easy access to use a torque wrench on the pressure plate bolts, it gives you good access to remove pilot bushing, and it also gives good access to replace the throw-out bearing. But thats just me. Lining up can be a PITA both ways as I have done both. Esp with a brand new pilot bushing.

[dft24ds]

I did my transmission swap1 by myself 2for the first time in 12 hrs from start to finish. why couldn't you do it again?

[TrunkMonkey]

The transmission is heavy if it falls on you something will break!! To me it is not worth risking back injury or some other injury. Doctor bills are not cheap!

unless your bones are brittle like micheal jackson's and you weigh about as much as a wet gnat, the manual transmission is not heavy. i'm pushing 180lbs when i've got a full stomach, and i can pull the transmission by myself with ease.

an auto transmission on the other hand...you better eat a bowl of wheaties.

-demetrius

[1WheelWonder]

It's really not all that bad to replace the clutch by yourself. The hardest part would have to be getting it up there and aligning it yourself.

[InsanityInc]

putting the transmission back in is easy, you just have to do a certain technique with an S13 since it's really, really cramped. Get the transmission in position, then shove the output end of the transmission as far up as it will go (against the car), and swing the input end into place. We wrestled with it for about a half hour before we figured that out.

[Florida240sx]

putting the transmission back in is easy, you just have to do a certain technique with an S13 since it's really, really cramped. Get the transmission in position, then shove the output end of the transmission as far up as it will go (against the car), and swing the input end into place. We wrestled with it for about a half hour before we figured that out.

Did you do this by yourself? Im tired from work and my back was already hurting.Beside for $100 plus the extras you can't really say no.

[Titan]

Did you do this by yourself? Im tired from work and my back was already hurting.Beside for $100 plus the extras you can't really say no.

Like I said before, if you have a floor jack it's not difficult at all. However, experience is everything. When I first did a clutch job I barely knew how to change my own oil, but I persevered and got it done. It is the ONLY way you will learn.

The $100 is a hell of a deal for a clutch job. However, it's all up to you if you want to learn it for yourself.

Personally, even if I am offered work for free, I still don't take it. The reward of doing it yourself is invaluable. Then again, thats me.

Don't get me wrong, doing this for the first time will result is plenty of screaming, rage, sweat, and possibly blood. That's where the perseverence and patience comes in.

[Florida240sx]

Well thinking back of my turbo install, I had lots of problems. Still got scars on my hands. I could of done it but was really wanting someone else to be there to help me. Only thing I really needed help on was to put the trany back in.Needed them to slowly jack the motor up so it would slide in. I helped do it 3yrs ago with a mechanic and it took us 8hrs.Granted we spent 4hrs running back and forth to his shop to get tools.The original plan was me goign to my friends dad's service shop so I could use his lift.But that got cancelled so I was back to my driveway workshop.Anywayz while I decided to pay for my clutch, I cleaned the garage and found all my tools, all my dad's SK tools, some electrical parts I've been searching for forever, and amp, 2 12' speakers and I changed my valve cover gasket on my vert.

[Charlie240sxt]

i put my cluch in by myself, our trannys are not all that heavy got it done in like 3-4 hours no air tools on jack stands

[zippitta]

I would say do it yourself. It isnt that hard and will take like 2-3 hrs max. And that is taking a lot of breaks and getting drunk at the same time. Save yourself 100 bucks.

[Kenrik]

I am doing mine myself (first time)... but then again I have one of these in my garage



(at my house... yes i'm spoiled)

plus i'll be using airtools

[Florida240sx]

Well when I did it 2yrs ago issue we ran into was lack of space.Laying on our backs and barley being able to turn a wrench.

[Nismo_Freak]

I did a 300ZX Twin Turbo clutch job in my driveway once.

Took me literally 36 hrs. of straight work to get the damn thing on and off.

[Kenrik]

I did a 300ZX Twin Turbo clutch job in my driveway once.

Took me literally 36 hrs. of straight work to get the damn thing on and off.

how many cases of beer did you drink BEFORE you tried to do it? lol....

dam they say chimps can be trained to do it in about 6 hours...

[90SXSE KA24ET DREAMS]

i dropped my trans out with the car front end up just up.. my car was on ramps... all it took was me to drop the trans and an extra help from a friend to get the trans back in and the friendly jack

[sunnys14]

i dropped a transmission before... right on my finger! my friend sneezed as we were jacking it up and pushed the transmission sideways off the jack about 8 inches off the ground right on my ring finger... it wasnt a pretty sight.

[Nismo_Freak]

how many cases of beer did you drink BEFORE you tried to do it? lol....

dam they say chimps can be trained to do it in about 6 hours...

You obviously have never worked on a Z32 twin turbo.

So keep your comments to yourself.

K, thnx.

[Craving4Boost]

You obviously have never worked on a Z32 twin turbo.

So keep your comments to yourself.

K, thnx.

lol aww man....i always stay away from 300's PERIOD....when my friends ask me to help with his 300 i just run away or sign off AIM...those cars are HELL

[Kenrik]

You obviously have never worked on a Z32 twin turbo.

So keep your comments to yourself.

K, thnx.

lol dude can't you take a joke? I know they are a pain in ***

[uncle_louie83]

well...i did a transmission swap on the 240 because the input shaft bearing exploded. took me 4 hours total all by myself...thats from pulling it into the garage to the time of pulling it out of the garage. Keep in mind it took me 30 minutes to get the car high enough in the air. with the car jacked up in the air about 1 1/2 to 2 feet off the ground. yes i have tall jack stands. Remove the starter..the top 2 trans bolts will need a 14 or is it 17mm...either or...but use an open box end wrench and put another one on the end of it as a pry bar and break the bolts loose that way and then unscrew them by hand if u can. the rest of the bolts...all u need is an impact with some long extensions and a good swivel...not those cheap *** ones cause they will spin the socket right off. pull your starter and pull out the trans...well after u get ur drive shaft off...now for the fun part....put it back in...i always liked using a leather belt like the braided ones...pull ur ebrake up and put the belt around the tail end of the shaft and wrap it around your ebrake handle...leave some slack so you can use your feet to guide the trans....push up the bell housing and if you want push a thin cushion on your chest and put the trans on ur chest. Really its not that heavy....75 lbs...just get the trans back up in there and wiggle it around til it slides in and then start bolting it back up and u will be golden.....now also remember to undo your motor mount bolts some and jack up the front end of your motor so it will have a tilt to it. otherwise you will be fighting it all day.

im 130lbs...5ft 8in and if i can do it...anyone can....and im a skinny lil MF who cant lift that much.

lewis

[Mikoriad]

wow great advise..... I'm feeling pretty confident I can do a clutch change now. Now to get all the parts together that I need.