L Series 4X4 Manual Gearbox removal

maddog · Post by **maddog** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:11 pm

Hi All you Subi Gurus...
my next mission is to replace my gearbox.
Can anyone tell me the easy way to do it?
(there's always the way that i do it and then there's the easy way!)
And how long will it take a Subie Newbie?
Thanks for your experience!

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:20 pm

When changing clutches or engine seals i always pull the motor as its easier. Swapping the box is easier but a bit more work to do with the engine out but can be done from under the car with a bit more fiddling. Just a tip connect all gear linkages to the gearbox before lifting it into final position.

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:24 pm

Remove clutch cable and unplug it's harness and anything else that might be connected to it.

Take off gearstick and 4x4 levers.

Take out the drive shaft.

Put a trolley jack under it and jack up until jack is just touching it.

remove bolts holding gearbox to engine including starter motor.

get under the car and wiggle the gearbox from side to side and you should be able to get it away from the engine. If not use a long flathead or other lever and jam it betwen engine/gearbox and lever off.

Once you've pulled the gearbox off the locating nuts doing the above you should be able to slide it back a bit using the trolley jack, then lower the jack.

do the reverse to put it back on.

I think that covers everything ?

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:25 pm

If you have the gear for it, then yeah, lifting the engine is probably the better way to go, but a single person with time and no special tools can do it my way.

I've done it by myself several times now that way. I've never done it by pulling out the engine.