Clutch Change out

[depthcharge711]

Currently I have a 390 with a NP435 four-speed. I want to change the cluthc and was underneath looking, Can I unbolt the tranny from the bellhousing then remove the bell housing? It would make things alot easier I think. Anything special to consider when doing this?

[fordman]

yues you can do that. i dont know how easy or hard it would be. i have never done it. i was thinking you coul djust puul bell and all. and slide it back then replace the clutch.

[70shortbox]

Either way works. On reassembly it can be tricky to get the throwout bearing slid in place on the bearing retainer snout.

[fordman]

i put grease on my transmission input shaft to let the throw out bearing slide on the shaft. but i was putting the engine in while the transmission was still in place.

[70_F100]

Actually, you don't have to remove the bellhousing.

The clutch, pressure plate, release bearing and pilot bearing can all be replaced with the bellhousing bolted to the engine. The clutch disc and pressure plate come out the bottom of the bellhousing after removing the inspection cover.

[depthcharge711]

I am replacing the rear main seal while I am down there so I wil be removing everything..Just dont want to have to deal with all that weight when I am working solo. Thank you for the advice. Hope this goes smooth..I alreadt found out the headers had to be unbolted in order to get the bellhousing to clear.

[pelesl]

Actually, you don't have to remove the bellhousing.

The clutch, pressure plate, release bearing and pilot bearing can all be replaced with the bellhousing bolted to the engine. The clutch disc and pressure plate come out the bottom of the bellhousing after removing the inspection cover.

I'm assuming you know from experience? Because the shop manual says you have to remove the bellhousing (they call it the clutch housing I think) and that then you have to put an indicator in your pilot bushing to realign the housing to within some pretty amazing tolerances!

In the master parts catalog the picture was not clear as to whether or not you can get everything out with the housing installed.

Can you also pull the flywheel out through this cover?

[Whateverman]

Actually, you don't have to remove the bellhousing.

The clutch, pressure plate, release bearing and pilot bearing can all be replaced with the bellhousing bolted to the engine. The clutch disc and pressure plate come out the bottom of the bellhousing after removing the inspection cover.

Why make your life harder than you need too for the sake of removing 6 or so extra bolts??
unbolt the trans from the bellhousing ,then remove the bellhousing and then the pressure plate and so on.
its easier to get to the bolts on the pressure plate & its alot easier to check out the flywheel for wear/heat spots and cracks that way...

[70_F100]

Actually, you don't have to remove the bellhousing.

The clutch, pressure plate, release bearing and pilot bearing can all be replaced with the bellhousing bolted to the engine. The clutch disc and pressure plate come out the bottom of the bellhousing after removing the inspection cover.

Why make your life harder than you need too for the sake of removing 6 or so extra bolts??
unbolt the trans from the bellhousing ,then remove the bellhousing and then the pressure plate and so on.
its easier to get to the bolts on the pressure plate & its alot easier to check out the flywheel for wear/heat spots and cracks that way...

Working on trucks for a living for many years taught me to take off as little as possible. There's that much more you have to put back together.

The way these trucks are made, by the time you take the starter out and those extra 6 bolts that hold the bellhousing on, you can almost have the clutch changed out. You can also inspect the flywheel quite easily. Cracks and hot spots are quite easily recognizable.

Leaving the bellhousing on also means you don't have to realign it (which I doubt is done very often anyway).

That is also why the bellhousing is made with a big opening in the bottom.

And that is my

[pelesl]

Removing the bell housing or not, it's probably a good idea to set up the indicator and check its alignment anyway. Then if you find that it's way off you can take it off and do the clutch change afterwards.

[fordman]

why is the bell housing in need of alignment when it has line up spacers that do that for you? i put the bellhousing on my fe and then put the engine in my F100 4wd. shock the engine mayeb twice. and it slide right onto the transmission. i have had no trouble what so ever with the clutch or any part of it. since i put it together. this was my first driveable 4wd with a manual transission. its the best truck i have ever had. too bad i dont drive it on the highway. gas costs too much.

[Whateverman]

Seriously? realign the bellhousing?WTF? thats not hard- it goes onto locator dowels !

[fordman]

thats what i did . but there is a reason and i cant remember why it is suppose to be done.

[Whateverman]

i always had to align the clutch with the pilot bearing,but never the bellhousing with anything
but then again i've never had a pilot bearing (or bushing) come out without having to be cracked in half with a cold chisel first either (which would be even more of a P.I.T.A with the bellhousing in the way)

[fordman]

i used a clutch disc line up tool. to heck with messing around trying to line up the splines and all that.