...and I thought you might be able to give some good advice. I just searched the Brick archives for detail-rich how-to postings on replacing the pressure plate, disk and release bearing in a '92 240 with an M47 tranny, without luck.

Also, while I'm down there, I figure I'd replace the rear main cam seal and pilot bearing. And heeding your advice of a couple years back, I plan on installing a rear cam seal retainer.

Stu Craig

Middletown, RI

sbcraig@hotmail.com

Stu --

Bob had good ideas, as usual.

You can install the retainer strap anytime -- have the tranny out offers no advantage.

Absolutely replace the rear main. To not replace it would be criminal.

Be sure to mark the crankshaft (adjacent to the pilot bearin) and the flywheel with alignment marks so it mates up the same way during reassembly.

On the older cars -- and I assume (but don't know) also on your car -- the gearshift stalk is removed by first removing a small set screw (4 mm Allen wrench, or thereabouts) and then a laterial pin. You may need some Kroil or PBlaster for the silly-assed set screw.

Very good. Many thanks to you and to Bob for the help. This clutch job will be a cinch now, right?

A friend here at NUWC is going to assist in this operation. Evidently, he has some experience. No only is he highly intelligent (almost a PhD), but he's also a nationally ranked powerlifter, both of which will be appreciated throughout this job, I'm sure.

By the way, we recently replaced Monica's (my wife, whose folks are Peter and Brona Sachs, you may recall) Mazda with a 2001.5 Passat wagon. Very nice car. She very much liked the V70, but we couldn't touch a comparably equipped Volvo for less than another $7K. (And, no, unfortunately, I don't get a discount on Sachs parts :).)

I'll also be changing the drive belts on the Volvo soon, and changing the brake fluid, neither of which I've done before. I'll be scouring the Brick Board for how-to info when the time comes.

Stu

stu -

Have you reviewed the job in the Haynes or the Bentley manuals?

I've never done the job, but I'll offer these tips:

Remember the speedo cable and wiring for o/d and b/u lights before you get to moving the trans. That's a bad surprise.

The upper bolt on the bell housing takes a long long extension.

It helps if the transmission mount cross member is lowered a little.

Replace the transmission mount, the pilot bearing, the rear main seal, the throw-out bearing, and everything else you can while you're in there.

Do you have the tool for lining up the clutch disk so the main shaft splines will go in OK?

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

I've quickly reviewed, but not perused, Haynes. Will do that far in

advance of starting the job. Don't own one of Mr. Bentley's manuals yet.

Ordered parts from IPD. Everything you mentioned (even the line-up

tool), in fact, except for the transmission mount. Maybe I can pick one up locally.

A long extension? I could probably come up with a foot of extension,

maybe more.

Thanks for the advice.

"...long extension? I could probably come up with a foot of..."

You'll need to reach the top bell housing bolts from near, or behind, the tranny output flange. I think I cobble up around 4' of 1/2" drive extensions. Plus I use a U-joint adapter at the top end.

It sounds worse than it is.