Long and rambling post follow, be warned.....

Yesterday being the weekend out here, I jacked up the Fabia carefully, 2 jackstands with wood on top under the front sill mounting points, rear wheels chocked, handbrake on and lucky rabbit's foot hung in a prominent place.....

So far have removed the battery, battery box, airfilter box and the starter motor. Had to stop as the only shop open nearby had run out of the 12-point (triple-square) bits needed to open up the driveshaft flanges. Got them this am on my way to work...

Decided to do the fitting myself to save on costs (SWMBO must be appeased...) as well as the fact that unlike the UK where if you ask around you can get quality work by a certified pro, out here anyone with a few basic tools calls themselves a mechanic (as in "what's a toque wrench for...).

As I want the job to be done carefully with all the right torque values, etc I decided to do it myself, armed with a lot of info provided by mates... If I get into any trouble, I'm lucky to have a few friends who are good mechanics who can help out . Pretty confident I can do this, as I have all the info plus an impact wrench (which I love as Jason loves his angle-grinder, although I don't keep it under my pillow at night).

Will try to take a few pics for the amusement of the real pro's on Brisk, but kinda difficult as I'm all alone most of the time.

Gotta get the car ready in time for a open-day race at the Bahrain F1 circuit this 16th coming. Bro-in-law Noah will be driving and I hope that the car will show off just what a fettled Fabia can do. Hoping he will seriously nail a few amateurs in their minis and scoobs....

Cheers

Bas

C'mon then Bas - Stop talking about it and let's see the pictures!!

good luck basil

:wrthless:

Hmm I've just found my training notes and manual for the manual transmission course in the garage, shame your not a bit more local.

Hmm I've just found my training notes and manual for the manual transmission course in the garage, shame your not a bit more local.

Gosh! I wish I was!!!!

I know that things should get even more interesting once I get the transmission actually out of the car...

My Mum's in the UK ATM, coming out here in about 2 weeks...Hmm, I may have to beg yet another favour out of our Uber-techie mate!!!!

Cheers

Bas

Hmm I've just found my training notes and manual for the manual transmission course in the garage, shame your not a bit more local.

how much for a transmission workshop manual

Hmm I think about the price of a haynes which is about £15

ok some pics as I've been ordered to post!!!. Work is slowly progressing along...

Found it useful to whack in the 12-point bit in the driveshaft bolts using a small hammer before turning.

Cheers all

Bas

Hmm I think about the price of a haynes which is about

Looks like you're making good progress Bas - Could have washed though eh :eek: :rofl: .

I suppose on the plus side you can work outside without fear of rain. :P

no just sand and grit id imagine lol

Does Haynes cover a gearbox strip down and rebuild, I didnt think it did.

no it doesn't.. the haynes manual for the fabia is rubbish

Found it useful to whack in the 12-point bit in the driveshaft bolts using a small hammer before turning.

Cheers all

Bas

That's very good advice with both the trisquare and allen head fixings: the dirt and crud stops the bit engaging and it's easy to strip the heads.... been there, done that, got out the angle grinder.

ok, so far additional steps done: disconnected the drive shafts from the flanges after marking their alignment with a tippex/blanco typing correction pen, suspended them with wire. Removed the pendulum support (dogbone).

next to mark the 3 bolts mounting positions both sides, remove and figure out removing the assembly carrier safely.

Sandwich baggies filling up nicely with bolts, labelled as well....

Slowly getting there....

Some more slow progress....

Subframe(console) is out and I am getting close to actually removing the transmission!

Working all alone, I am so glad of my Hoo Flung Dung impact wrench.....

Finally got the transmission out safely... After a full day's work it was no fun, but tmrw am I'm off and I'm heading to a mate's machine shop to fit the Peloquin LSD.

Slowly but surely I'm making progress...

Bas

Rome wasn't built in a day Bas. Taking your time now will pay off in the long term.

:iagree: with Stu!

Coming along quite nicely Bas, keep up the good work!!! Hope it all goes swimmingly at the machine shop!!!

Thanks for the advice and encouragement mates - will go slow with the LSD fit to be sure - just hate being without the fabia - will post pics as soon as I have some....

Let me know about the shimming needed when you fit the diff in your box. I have a manual for it from peloquin but its not been studied yet, so hopefully you'll be able to tell me lots which will help me out.

I'm hoping I can do a gearbox in and out in about 4 or 5 hours, but it will be in a garage and have all the best equipment to hand.

Let me know about the shimming needed when you fit the diff in your box. I have a manual for it from peloquin but its not been studied yet, so hopefully you'll be able to tell me lots which will help me out.

I'm hoping I can do a gearbox in and out in about 4 or 5 hours, but it will be in a garage and have all the best equipment to hand.

It's read and understood, shims on the way!

It's read and understood, shims on the way!

It's going to be a BASIL Vs MONGREL peloquin fitting race!

Hmm, mate's machine shop busy today, left the box there for now. :thumbdwn:

Tmrw pm gonna get into it. Luckily I have a full set of shims to hand.

The OEM advises a pre-load of 0.40mm, Gary Peloquin says 0.35 max, will go with his numbers.

Some further eye-candy - so this is what a clutch plate looks like!

latest update: took the gearbox back from the machine shop untouched - they were busy and I didn't want to waste any more time.

Split the box without too much difficulty - in fact I was amazed at how easy it was. I bought a cheap dent-remover slide hammer intending to weld it onto a bolt to help pop up the upper case- luckily it was a perfect fit as it came out of the box!

Next bit of business is getting out the diff- need a second pair of hands and putting it away for now...Progressing along slowly but surely...

Noticed that there was a little bit of wear on some of the gears, but nothing in my amateur opinion that needs replacing.....pic below

Cheers

Bas

gears look ok Basil , quick question , does the front subframe have to come off to remove the transmission ?