Engine mount help

[Airhead]

Can you help me, I have been told that the engine/gearbox mounts need replacing on my '71 Ghia, do you know if they are the same as the manual car and where I can purchase these from? Also do you know how difficult a job it would be to install these?, the guy at The Karmann Ghia centre here in the UK said it was extremely tricky as when the engine and gearbox are split there is a great danger of damaging the torque converter seal unless the engine is kept perfectly horizontal without it dropping, can you offer any help or advice please.

Thanks

Airhead

[68AutoBug]

Hi,
You will need to replace the torque converter oil seal, because once its disturbed, it will leak...
1st You have to undo the 4 small small bolts that attach the torque converter to the engine.. thru the two holes in the sides of the gearbox.
You will have to turn the engine over by hand until the bolts are in the correct position to undo...
2nd You take the engine out....  leave the torque converter attached to the gearbox as You take it out...
3rd You will need a container to sit under the torque converter as ATF will pour out once its taken off... same thing will happen if You take the torque converter off with the engine...

Then I undid the engine mount nuts inside the gearbox bell housing
I then put a jack under the gearbox and jacked it up slightly..
I then took the Large Support bracket that bolts to the chassis with two Large bolts,off,
after undoing the bottom bolts that were holding the engine mounts in place..  

The engine mounts are really gearbox mounts, and Yes they are the same for autos as manuals..  I just renewed mine..

I bolted the engine mounts in place loosely until I had the bottom bolts in place in the bracket, just make sure the mounts are seated properly before doing the bolts up, after the jack has been let down...
send Me Your email address and I can send You some photos.
or check out My website for photos..
try to buy German engine/gearbox mounts...
the Brazillian/Mexican ones don't last too long..

gearbox mounts part number is  113 301 263   You need two

Your torque converter oil seal is  001 301 083B
thats for the 1970> models , correct for your gearbox.

cheers

Lee    68AutoBug    Australia

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug



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[Airhead]

Thanks for your help Lee, I will check out your web-site.

Airhead

[bigpapa]

The manual for my Beetle recommends running a strap across the torque converter to keep it in place while the engine is removed. Everything that I have read indicates that disturbing the torque converter and its seal requires seal replacement to avoid leaks.