CSX**** 427 Engine Leaking rear main seal & Engine Trans Removal

[Leatherman289]

Hi all I wanted to ask if anyone would know if the 4 speed toploader can be removed from the bottom from an original CSX 427 chassis to replace and repair the rear main engine seal. I have never worked on this sort of repair on a real Cobra chassis with the large round tube frame only Replicas which usually have removable transmission cross members which makes the repair a breeze.

Can anyone here give me a heads up if we need to actually pull the engine and gearbox out from the car to do this repair.

We are scheduled to do it in a few weeks and simply want to prepare myself for it in advance.

[Blue66]

Took mine out from inside the car.

[427Larry]

You can change it in the car, but how difficult it will be, will depend on if you have one with a stock 427 oil pan, or a Aviad. The Aviad makes it much more difficult. Good luck!

[Leatherman289]

Originally Posted by Blue66

Took mine out from inside the car.

thanks for the reply this is very reassuring now as I was nervous to start removing the hood and engine bay stuff to yank the driveline from the top. As I recall top loaders are fairly compact as long as the input shaft isn't some odd length

[Leatherman289]

Originally Posted by 427Larry

You can change it in the car, but how difficult it will be, will depend on if you have one with a stock 427 oil pan, or a Aviad. The Aviad makes it much more difficult. Good luck!

thanks i believe this car has the original oil pan from the photos i am comparing it to.

[undy]

Windsor or FE? If it's a FE You might be wasting your time as the FE rear seal is usually leak-0-matic.

[Dominik]

You might just be able to disconnect the gearbox from the bellhousing, push it back (by at least 10"?) and drop the bell out. You need to swivel the bellhousing. It's wider than the frame rails.

If it's a steel version and you think it's heavy, watch the transmission carefully... You may also have to turn the box a bit to clear shifter linkage to tunnel or handbrake bracket! Due to the narrow tunnel you may not get past that.

Steel bellhousing weight 35 lbs, box 110 lbs!

Then you might have to raise the engine, possibly still in its mounts, to get the oil pan out.
If the 3" crossmember happens to be in line with the rear of the engine, forget about it. You can't get to the main bearing. (can't recall, but do remember it's quite close)

If you get stuck you need to take the engine out anyway. By now you lost a lot of time trying.

Also ask Contemporary (CCX) owners. The early ones did not have the bolt-in transmission crossmember. And Kirkham?

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Dominik

You might just be able to disconnect the gearbox from the bellhousing, push it back (by at least 10"?) and drop the bell out. You need to swivel the bellhousing. It's wider than the frame rails.

If it's a steel version and you think it's heavy, watch the transmission carefully... You may also have to turn the box a bit to clear shifter linkage to tunnel or handbrake bracket! Due to the narrow tunnel you may not get past that.

Steel bellhousing weight 35 lbs, box 110 lbs!

Then you might have to raise the engine, possibly still in its mounts, to get the oil pan out.
If the 3" crossmember happens to be in line with the rear of the engine, forget about it. You can't get to the main bearing. (can't recall, but do remember it's quite close)

If you get stuck you need to take the engine out anyway. By now you lost a lot of time trying.

Also ask Contemporary (CCX) owners. The early ones did not have the bolt-in transmission crossmember. And Kirkham?

Ccx? Kirkham? According to the PP It's an original.

Red flags always go up when someone working on an original comes here for advice.

[Dominik]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Ccx? Kirkham? According to the PP It's an original.

Redland always go up when someone working on an original comes here for advice.

CCX and Kirkham have similar space.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Ccx? Kirkham? According to the PP It's an original.

Red flags always go up when someone working on an original comes here for advice.

As when they are working on "continuation series" cars stating they are "originals".


Yet, still, we do have quite a few original CSX2 & 3K owners here, so you never know.


Bill S.

[Blue66]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

As when they are working on "continuation series" cars stating they are "originals".


Yet, still, we do have quite a few original CSX2 & 3K owners here, so you never know.


Bill S.

My 3000 car removed the console an take it out

My 4000 car you can drop it out under the car. Cross member is removable

[Blue66]

double post

[CompClassics]

Simple answer, you can not remove the transmission from under the car. It has to come out through the interior.