QuestionQUESTION: does the gearbox come out from under the car or inside the car
ANSWER: You can either remove with the engine as a whole unit, or from inside the car by removing the tunnel cover. There isn't room to get the tranny out from below without removing the engine.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: thanks for the reply , are you sure the gearbox can not be removed from under the car if the car has been raised high enough in the air
AnswerThe trans has to move backwards about 2-3" before the input shaft separates from the pilot bush in the crankshaft.
From what I have done in the past, there isn't enough clearance between the two frame rails to get the transmission bell housing down through the frame. You would have to completely remove the rear tranny mount,as the transmission bushes drop down on top of the tranny mount. Everything has to go up and backwards to get clear.
This doesn't consider where your exhaust routes, moving the engine as far forward as you can, remove/drop the drive shaft, etc.
Everytime I have pulled a spitfire transmission, it has been with the engine in 1 piece, or out through the body tub of the car. That has been the simpliest and least painful. I actually tend now to pull the engine tranny together most of the time, as that is easiest to properly align/connect the transmission to the engine block.
