Rover P4 Clutch Renewal

C

classicmike

New Member
I am about to fit a new clutch kit to my Rover P4. I also think the rear crankshaft oil seal is contaminating the existing clutch facings.
Has anyone out there carried out this work.?
Can I carry out this job with the engine in situ.?


Classic Mike
 
Hi
1. Yes - it is possible to do the job in-situ. However it is anything but easy. The principle challenge is getting the car high enough off the ground to pull the gearbox in and out - that unit is *heavy*. Fine if you have a hoist and gearbox jack, but a challenge otherwise. Not impossible, but character building none the less. (Even a small Barry Cade workshop described it as a pig of a job.)

2. Better plan for the home mechie is to pull out and replace the engine and gearbox out complete through the front of the car. This is very easy approach and also gives one a fine chance to tidy up the engine compartment etc. Simple hand tools and a hydraulic hoist are all that's needed. Mating up the gearbox with the engine is also a piece of cake. With all the parts and hoist to hand, plan on having the unit out in a day. Going steadily and at a relaxed pace, schedule two weekends with some evening fettling and cleaning during the week. Strange as it sounds, putting it back in the car seems to take less time than hoicking it out :D (I've done this job sufficient times on P4's and P5's to have total confidence in my recommendation but, of course, there are certain to be others who believe otherwise.)

Good luck mate!
 
Hi Classicmike.
I have had the box out of my P4 twice over the years .Its not a bad job but it is time consuming and the box is heavy especially if it has the overdrive stuck on the back.
I did mine by removing the box from inside.Once the seats , carpets and transmission tunnel are out of the way its not a bad job.The car needs to be high to gain access underneath , a decent jack under the sump as the rear mounting is also the rear g/box mounting and some perseverance to get it back in.I balance mine on a trolley jack so you are not fighting the weight of the box but only keeping it upright and inline with the clutch plate splines.
The rear main oil seal can be done with the engine in place.

Have fun.

Best regards Phil.
 
Done a few of these, probably why my back is stuffed!
Usually remover gearbox from inside car, remove front seats, transmission tunnel etc.
There are a number of rear crankshaft seals, mods were done over the years plus two sizes of crankshaft diameter depending which engine you are talking about.
 
Thought this might be of interest to you classismike.Its from the P4 Drivers Guild forum which I think can be accessed by anyone.
There has been much discussion about the rear main seal on the P4 as they can be a constant source of leaks large and small.

"Hi to all who have read this thread and those who have contributed.

In order to clarify, because some comments have been added by those who have misread the original thread.

The garage were not at fault - I supplied the seal- the new 4 part seal recommended by Wadhams as a superior alternative to the old two part seal.

This seal was found to be very difficult to fit - if anyone has managed it without engine removal I would be interested to hear. It may well be a superior seal kit, and I am probably going to use it again because I now intend taking the engine out. ( having found that the last owner replaced all core plugs except the rear difficult to access one -not much choice have I? I know what will happen if I don't change it!)

Having studied the original two part seal and the new 4 part seal I think the two part could be fitted with the engine in situ quite easily and that would be my choice and advice to anyone attempting to change the seal without engine removal. "

Hope the above is of use.

Regards Phil.
 
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