Mark 1 with 1992 302 and a 3550 trans. Changing a throwout bearing

[twagner]

Hello! I have bought a dream Cobra at Mecum Indy and the throw out bearing now wining after 2 years of enjoying it. It is a Mark 1 with a 1992 Fox mustang 302 and a 3550 trans. Before I start tearing into it, is it possible to remove driveshaft and move trans over the cross member enough to change bearing? Or easier to move engine forward 6 or 8 inches to do it? I'm not sure trans will move back far enough. I hate to pull motor and trans just for the bearing. I also don't think trans will move back far enough to get shaft out to drop it out. Just looking for advise from someone who may have done this. Thnk you, Todd Wagner oh, there is no hydrailic assist...

[Jeff Kleiner]

On a Mk1 without the tubular backbone structure it's usually easier to pull back the carpet, remove the aluminum tunnel top and pluck the trans out from above. Driveshaft will come out with the rear end at full droop. As an unrelated aside, it always makes me nervous to see the lower end of the coilovers bolted in single shear rather than double shear using the proper FFR mounts.

Jeff

[twagner]

UGGGHHH... I was hoping not to get into having to redo interior over a cheap bearing replacement. Carpet is nice but all glued down. I will have to ruin carpet pulling it off, then will never match it, so would have to recarpet entire cockpit... I also don't trust myself to do that nicely, so would have to take to a pro. That gets into big money to redo interior. i think thats worse than pulling the motor.. but thank you for the advise...

[twagner]

Jeff,

Can you tell me what part I need to get for double shear coilover mounts?

Thanks,

[65 Cobra Dude]

I just did this today on an MK1 but with a T5 tranny (which I think is smaller). The key was to turn the tranny as it separates from the bell housing to get it past the 4” tube. Might as well check out the pressure plate, clutch disk, flywheel and pilot bearing while in there. I did not have to take out tunnel top. Had to take out the shifter and shifter base plate too.

Henry

[svassh]

Here is a video on removing a T5 from a MK2. Your transmission looks bigger than a T5 but this may give you an idea on whether it can be removed from under the car. I followed this last year when replacing my T5 and throw out bearing.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=quRZRB26i4g&list=WL&index=34