2.3L ('83-'97) Time for a new clutch 96 2.3

[Heather’s94]

We’re in the Memphis area now, I’m originally from up north next to Fort Lewis (WA). The D.O.T. here salts the road so hard that the pavement gets bleached out…

My wife is a Temu fanatic. Truck parts, specialty tools, bug out bag supplies, living history accessories… Of course, if you count the solid beam axle motorhome (413-1/727) we have 11 trucks, 3 cars, 9 cruiser motorcycles, 6 boats, 6 tractors and 5 tag along (bumper pull) trailers that need varying/constant attention…

 

[justinae]

@scotts90ranger that's awesome man. Really appreciate it but i've got ramps.
Yeah no salt damage.
I now have 4 3-ton stands and will use all to get more clearance, plus my floor jack and cribbing as safety measures. Those ramps with lifts look cool, but doesn't that mean there's potential for some slight rolling if it's on tires?
Also borrowed a friends portable motorcycle lift to manage the transmission. Do you guys usually take it all the way out and get it out of the way or just swing it back a bit? I usually lean toward a bit more effort to get room to work.

 

[Heather’s94]

Full pull on the transmission.
When I determine the height needed on the jack ramps, will strap the wheels to the ramps. Had HBCPITA (Heap Big Chief Pain In The Ass), aka, the wife, order new straps for my tow dolly. A couple locking carabiners per ramp, tow dolly straps… Won’t go anywhere.

A sheet of plywood/osb goes a long way in easing the transmission pull/install. Regardless of what jack type you use, or just benchpressing it back in. I do mine on dirt, as “She who must not be named”, okay, both of them, have the carport crammed full of kitchen overflow. 2 freezers, boxes and boxes of kitchen widgets/spare dishes/pots/etc. 7 households worth of “stuff”.

 

[Heather’s94]

And I use short pieces of railroad track as wheel chocks. They dig in where actual chocks slide… I deflate the (rotten/junk) rear tires, set the parking brake after chocking. Both sides of the rear tires. IF it can roll after that…

 

[justinae]

Getting to the clutch today. I've got the rear jacked up nicely and secure. Not sure of the best spots for the front jacks.

First pic uses suspension and is most out of the way but I'll lose quite a bit of clearance. Second pics uses the frame and keep clearance but seems really in the way.

Recommended location for clutch job?

 

[scotts90ranger]

They're ALWAYS in the way... I usually put them under the I beams because that's the most stable... but also why I was suggesting ramps up front backward... easiest to just jack up the axle from the beam and set the ramps under the tires...

If you had some cribbing or something to get them up higher going to the frame in front of the front suspension is much less in the way...

 

[justinae]

I decided to just join the cribbing world. It's a bit of a pain to get them up on them but I love the clearance and the room.

Now to finally start the actual clutch job.

 

[justinae]

I'm stuck at trying to remove the center support for drive shaft. I have the bolts out but I can't see how to get the clips out. I found this video that has the same clips at the 16 min mark and he is putting the clips on the opposite way that mine are installed. The clips are quite loose but I just can't slide them off.

I assume there is some part down into the hole?

It's not a good pic but here is the clip

 

[justinae]

I got it eventually. Here is a close up of the clip. Is there any reason the bolt has to be threaded down from the top instead of up from the bottom? Looks like it can go either way and it was a very long time getting them out. I had to cut one because there is no room to swing the tool with the bolt head so close to the gas tank.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Unfortunately I haven't even looked at that crossmember on my '97 but there has to be a way for the fasteners in a usable direction...

 

[justinae]

i agree. i see no advantage to installing with bolt head on top side and every reason not to.

 

[Heather’s94]

Guess I’ll be flipping those over while the tank is out and the bed is off…
That’s one of those things that make you think. And come up with solutions that work better for you, on your truck. 83-11 Rangers are now, how aircooled VWs were in the 80s and 90s. Popular. Going up in price and down in supply. Riddled with build issues from the factory that make no sense until taken apart.

Have you tried reaching the upper bellhousing bolts yet…

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Guess I’ll be flipping those over while the tank is out and the bed is off…
That’s one of those things that make you think. And come up with solutions that work better for you, on your truck. 83-11 Rangers are now, how aircooled VWs were in the 80s and 90s. Popular. Going up in price and down in supply. Riddled with build issues from the factory that make no sense until taken apart.

Have you tried reaching the upper bellhousing bolts yet…

Yes those upper bolts are a bitch. I've done them from the top and bottom. Top with a ratcheting 13mm if loose enough. Bottom with a 36" extension. Stacking extension puts in too much slop.

 

[Heather’s94]

Yes those upper bolts are a bitch. I've done them from the top and bottom. Top with a ratcheting 13mm if loose enough. Bottom with a 36" extension. Stacking extension puts in too much slop.

Try it with 3x surgical glove sized hands…

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Yeah. Lately arthritis is holding me back... I just figure out ways to get around the problem...