The progression of a wearing clutch was slowly building and not getting better by itself...so I had to to the 'Big Job' and tonight its raining, the rover is disembowled, and parts are on the way. Took a pic during the "remove the caked up dirt and grease" stage of the cleanup.
Didnt get a picture yet but she cleaned up very nice, amazing that aluminum is like new under all that grease!!!
So Now.....Ive got to rig up a ratcheting strap to pull up the weight, and use my trolly jack and some plywood and gradually get this thing loose, and slid back. Then, hopefully, the new clutch and cover will be a quick bolt on, and I can get her all buttoned back up again.....maybe by sundown tomorrow.
Ive never done this before, but so far so good... The previous owner had devious nut/bolt fasteners with long bolts holding down all the floor panels, I didnt have any wd40 on hand (gasp) and finally did manage to get them all off, with 2 shearing, 1 being drilled out, and the other having the nut sawed off. The rest succumbed to wrenches.
Of course all this brings other areas of the Rover into view that Ive not seen before and what makes a lovely patina on the outside...through careful neglect and wear, dosent make for a pretty scene underneath. There are areas of rust on the chassis that need some welding. Overall, though, better than a lot of stuff that old thats out there.
On well, tomorrow is another day and hopefully this will all work out OK. Any advice on doing the job from this point onward is most eagerly solicited. Greasy