Today's Question - gearbox

[droopsnoot]

As I recall, the filler plug is on the left hand side of the box, looking from behind it towards the front of the car.

Yes, if you fill it prior to fitting, the oil will run out through the propshaft hole. Hence the oil seal around the propshaft.

[1972nail]

Yep, Half way up the LH side of the box. Usually a large square headed plug with threads showing on the side. Could also be an Allen headed socket but more likely to be square on an early box. Allen headed one shown below with the rear of the box on the right.

The 'knob' on the left is the cover for the end of the selector shaft. The Reversing light switch fits there or if used in a van, the van selector tower mechanism attaches there rather than the rods on the RH side on a car installation.

[jpsmit]

Ok, found it! thanks all - these always take less oil than I imagine - so, it is lower than I was looking.

Some places I have read suggest washing the gearbox out by flushing with kerosene or some solvent - any thoughts?

[1972nail]

I would have thought that if you had the box stripped then cleaning it in that way would have been a good idea. But rinsing it out while fully assembled would only spread any dirt or grit which has accumulated safely in the bottom of the box into the workings and that would be bad IMO.

Well, is it a square plug or Allen head?

[jpsmit]

I would have thought that if you had the box stripped then cleaning it in that way would have been a good idea. But rinsing it out while fully assembled would only spread any dirt or grit which has accumulated safely in the bottom of the box into the workings and that would be bad IMO.

Well, is it a square plug or Allen head?

square plug

[jpsmit]

next question - the gasket between the gearbox and the bell housing - sealant or dry?

[1972nail]

Dry. There's no oil directly in contact with it.

[jpsmit]

Dry. There's no oil directly in contact with it.

thanks! (and BTW why a gasket then?) so they don't rust together?

[1972nail]

Probably to allow a bit of compression and spring to keep the bolts tight and bed the mating surfaces.

[droopsnoot]

Keep in mind the whole bellhousing area was effectively "sealed", in that it should have a rubber gaiter around the clutch fork, and a plastic cover over the spare hole in the other side, along with the semi-circular cover covering the bottom half of the flywheel. But it is strange that there is a paper gasket between the gearbox and bellhousing, but none between the bellhousing and engine block.