My first clutch job was also my first 122. My first car. Circa 1988. It took me a full spring break week in high school. Probably a good thing. That was in my folks' unlit, unheated, stand alone garage with a dirt floor...

Well said Eric, on all points, and as usual!

Having done it once, I wasn't afraid to tackle my second clutch. That was that pesky 544. The transmission didn't come out like it did in the 122. Another week.

So, that was my main point.. that 544s simply ain't as easy. Circa 1989.

Fast forward 10 years or so, full time pizza driver, after a closing shift one night, I decided it would be a good idea to replace my transmission which had lost 1st gear. Starting at 1:00am. And do the clutch while in there. Hand tools only.

Well, by 2:30am, I had it all done ready to go. In bed by 3:00am, and back at work on time the next morning, 10:00am.

Just saying.. a clutch is not that hard. But, it is a lot of work, and in doing that work, there are so many other things that are often neglected that can be properly sorted at the same time, it just seems worthy of the extra effort to me.

Now, if I needed to do a clutch on the cheap and fast, I'd do it on the cheap and fast...

If I wasn't in a hurry, and/or the car in question is a 544, I'd absolutely pull the engine and make sure everything is right, as you mentioned, Eric.
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-Matt I ♥ my ♂