I'll try to keep it short. I work at a shop and from time to time work on some cars for a private collector/dealer. He acquired a Series 1 (and a Series 2) that he wanted me to look at. The PO had parked the car in the 80's due to a "bad starter". I removed the starter to find that the nut had stripped off the shaft and the various springs and collars had fallen into the clutch area. I was able to "fish" out most of the parts except the nut. The owner was anxious to get a rebuilt starter in. I was hesitant because I had not retrieved the nut. Upon a few cranks, the nut became lodged between the transmission (or bell housing) and the clutch pressure plate stopping the engine. This was all viewable via a digital video scope camera (I wish I had access prior to installing the starter!). I know what is involved with trying to retrieve the nut, time consuming and costly. My question: Has anyone been able to loosen the transmission enough to release the nut without completely removing the engine and transmission?

I know what is involved with the problems of the driveshaft being unable to be removed from an E-type. My proposal is to remove the exhaust and remove the drive shaft nuts. I would then lift the engine off the motor mounts and loosen the bell housing bolts. I would pick up the engine and move it forward (only have about an inch) and will probably have to drop down the rear to get the drive shaft to out. My intension is to only separate the bell housing from the engine enough to hopefully get the nut to "drop out".

Thanx

 

Sounds plausible. I've had to do something similar when removing the engine and gear box assembly.
The engine and gear box got stuck. I had to free the gear box from the engine and remove one at the time.
I think you can do what you are proposing. Not sure that the 1/2" gap you have will be enough to remove the nut.
Good luck and let us know how it turned out.
Bill.

 

Hi Bsracer,
Have you tried to turn the engine backwards with a 1 5/16 socket on the crank bolt or putting it in 4 gear and moving it backward to unjam the nut? Then fish it out with an magnet or claw pick-up tool. I would try almost anything before messing with separating the engine & trans,

 

Thanx Daytona and Bob_S.

Daytona- I'm willing to give it a try. I once had a XK140 with a bad overdrive. We didn't have as much space at our old shop so I had to work on it outside under a canopy. I removed the radiator and with the car on jack stands I lifted the motor with one of those engine load levelers in place. I was able to move the engine far enough forward to get the overdrive unit out and sent for rebuild. I left the engine supported on the engine hoist until the overdrive unit was repaired.

Bob_S-- I did put a socket on the crank and tried turning both ways. I did not try it in 4th gear though. The unfortunate thing is it stopped the motor turning abruptly when first cranking so I'm sure it's wedged pretty good. I will give it that a try in 4th gear next week when I go back with the inspection camera. It's a bit of a challenge going through the starter opening and over the flywheel. Here is a picture of the nut viewed thru the inspection camera.

 

Hi bracer,
I would also pull the spark plugs so you aren't fighting a possible compression stroke while trying to turn the engine.

 

Somewhat resolved!

Since I was working on this as a side project it was in someone's home garage. Without access to a lift I was limited on what I could do. With the holidays, the end of the year and other projects it fell to the back burner. The owner made arrangements to get the car to a shop with a lift (our shop has been too busy with major jobs). The owner of that shop was not keen on having me help. I had a thought of peeking thru the opening for the clutch arm after I had pulled the engine and trans out of a 1967 Etype. When the shop got the car on the lift they forced the clutch arm (which was frozen) and the motor turned over. I asked about the nut being retrieved and apparently it wasn't. After the shop crossed the starter wire and burned up the newly rebuilt starter the car had been back at the owner's for some time. I said I was still not comfortable with the nut still in there. Yesterday I was prepared to remove the starter again and try to retrieve the nut. After jacking up the car, I looked thru the opening for the clutch arm and spied what looked like the round end of the nut above the arm. Using a magnet I was able to work the nut to the opening where it became wedged. The clutch slave was frozen but the pin still rotated where it attached to the clutch arm. I removed the spring, pin and rod going into the slave. I able to pry the clutch arm against the clutch cover and freed the nut! All in the course of about 45min. The owner was extremely happy and so was I that I didn't have to take the starter out again!!