A few Q's, need some tips

[CorvallisBMW]

First, how the fuck do you get the pedal box out of an airbag car? I've been wrestling with this thing off and on for weeks. It's harder than the tranny swap itself! It just doesn't have room to come out, wtf? Do I have to remove the heater core and pull it out the other way?



Also, the transmission does not want to go on further than this. Could this be caused by the input shaft not aligning with the pilot bearing? it looks a bit like the same width as the bearing. But I was also thinking, since the clutch is engaged, could it be pressure from that trying to keep the tranny engaged? Or should I just pull that bitch in there using the bolts? I just don't want to fuck something up.

[DCColegrove]

Do not try to bolt up that trans!!!! It will fuck shit up.

If it doesn't go, it isn't right...start over.

Pull the booster, the gas peddal crank, and you may have to drop the steering mast jacket

[CorvallisBMW]

[B]... you may have to drop the steering mast jacket

How? I see no way to do that. The steering column is bolted in with irremovable bolts as far as I can tell. FYI it's an airbag car so I know some shit under there is different

[DCColegrove]

The bolts are removable, you have to walk them out with a punch (shear bolts...makes them hard to steel).

I usually replace them with Allen head set screws when I'm done.

[CorvallisBMW]

The bolts are removable, you have to walk them out with a punch (shear bolts...makes them hard to steel).

You mean slide something between the column and the head of the bolt? Maybe I'll just get out the air chisel and knock it off.

[CorvallisBMW]

Are these the bolts you're talking about? Just want to double check:



Any other bolts that half to be removed to get this thing out? i can't see any, but then again it's crazy shit under there.



Also, that tranny is still not going in. I took off the PP, clutch and re-aligned them with the pilot bearing. Still no go. Any tips? I've seriously been working this thing around for hours and is still won't go. The splines are engaging about 1 1/2 inches, but it still wont fit through the pilot bearing (i think)

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

I think you can just switch the pedals over to the airbag steering wheel bracket. I have both and they look identical (might be year different though)

[StereoInstaller1]

Darrin, I dremel'd a slot in mine and removed them with a screwdriver

[CorvallisBMW]

I think you can just switch the pedals over to the airbag steering wheel bracket. I have both and they look identical (might be year different though)

That is a brilliant idea, I will check on that asap after work. If it's true, i'm going to kick myself in the ass over and over for not notcing it myself.

[emi325i]

did you align the clutch disk with the centering tool? Also, if the trans isn't level, it will not slide in.. Don't forget to grease the input shaft with molybdenum grease, too. the clutch kit should have a little pouch of it.

[CorvallisBMW]

did you align the clutch disk with the centering tool? Also, if the trans isn't level, it will not slide in.. Don't forget to grease the input shaft with molybdenum grease, too. the clutch kit should have a little pouch of it.

yes and yes, I even re-aligned it after the tranny wouldn't go on the first time. I've been lifting the front of the engine with a jack in order to tilt the back end down and make the tranny installation easier. It just gives me a bit more room to work inside the tunnel than if they were both perfectly level. I also tried beveling the front edge of the input shaft to hopefully make it easier to find the pilot bearing.

[emi325i]

hm.. Mine didn't want to go back in at first, but, I just needed a break. I went back to it without being pissed off, got some help, and it worked.

[abepark]

is the starter in the way?

as for the pedals just remove the long bolt that holds the clutch and brake pedal to the box....its a pain cause of all the ABS wires, but if your at a junk yard just cut the wires out of the way. I thought I would pull the whole pedal box, but its a hell of a job getting the steering column out of the way. Just remove the pedals from the box