Bloody gearbox

Got a mates FC Holden in the shed at the mo, which I intend to restore for him. Has a clutch fault- won't disengage. It has got new hydraulics so not that. Bent clutch fork too.

I have been unable to remove the gearbox after a LOT of work and swearing. All unbolted etc but will not come out. Have tried levering screwdrivers in between bellhousing and engine block. Flogged the shit out of it with a piece of pipe and BIG hammer. Lucky bellhousing is cast iron. One piece box too- can't remove housing.

Sprayed wizard piss though inspection hole in back of bellhousing. I'm guessing clutch is rusted to input shaft or spigot bearing is rusted to shaft.

Ready to burn the bloody thing. Have spent probably 6 hours buggerising around with it. Still got rust repairs, floor pans, brakes and painting to go too.

Any ideas would be much appreciated!

Apply Heat

worst case remove engine and box??

cant get to the pressure plate bolts and undo them, put trans in neutral and turn engine over to access the others?
then remove gearbox pressure plate and clutch as one

Its a pain in the ass but undo the clutch/presser plate from the flywheel. You'll have to remove a bolt. turn motor a bit remove next bolt and so on. The clutch and fly wheel will come away with the gear box.

worst case remove engine and box??

cant get to the pressure plate bolts and undo them, put trans in neutral and turn engine over to access the others?
then remove gearbox pressure plate and clutch as one

We must have been typing at the same time dude.

Ta 4 replies. Not sure if I can access the bolts- 360 degree bellhousing. Maybe through inspection hole in back of bellhousing???

Meant to mention too a lot of water has been coming out of bellhousing- I'm guessing welsh plug has let go causing rust????

Finally got the bastard out. Got a loan of some crowbars- the type housebreakers use and levered at the top of the box until I got about 15-20mm gap, then belted the rear of the clutch plate with a chisel through the rear inspection hole until it slid along the input shaft splines- fuggin shaft and clutch had rusted together. Flywheel had rusted to crank too. Big hammer adjusted its attitude. What a pain.
Welsh plug at top looks like leaking. Will replace both rear ones while there.

brrrr good work mate, I hate these jobs. Real happy to be removing/installing motor&box in 1 unit......gotta love a slushbox

138 and a powerglide?

hmmm, raw power!

138 and a powerglide?

hmmm, raw power!

I dont think so - it would have been an old 3-speed no synchro on first box I reckon.

The Powerslide didn't appear until about 1965 ?? In the HD I think......only a stab in the dark here....

the first auto was the ek, came with a hydramatic, and it was craptacular. like driving with a parachute open and car full of 30 stone wrestlers.
any car with a grey motor and a gearbox made for at least 150 more horsepower is a recipie for slow