gearbox fitting tips

[totta Crolla]

Just a couple of things that I have found useful when fitting a gearbox without a ramp, i.e when the car is on the floor and jacked up.
1
When the gearbox is removed the back of the engine (flywheel end) tends to tilt up towards the floor of the car and this makes lining up the new gearbox difficult. I used a ratchet strap with one end hooked into the bottom pulley and the other end onto a strut brace, not done up particularly tight just enough to lift the front of the engine. The new gearbox now lines up easily, just rolling in on a trolley jack. Don't forget to release the strap before attempting to fit the rear gearbox mount though !
2
Fitting a cable tie (zip tie) between the clutch release arm and the bellhousing will prevent the release arm from moving when jacking the gearbox into position. The release arm tends to catch on the gearbox tunnel and as it moves forward it can dislocate the release bearing clips. But you probably wont realise this has happened until you try to press the clutch.
Again don't forget to remove the cable tie before you finally install the bellhousing bolts.
hope it all makes some sense people