MTFCA Forum

I took everything off to get the hogs head out. The starter, all the nuts and bolts and I disconnected the packnut on the exhaust. The hogs head is up off the gasket it's not stuck down, but I can't lift it off, it hits the engine, there's not enough space to lift it out. Am I doing something wrong? Also do I need to take the whole exhaust out or is just disconnecting it from the manifold good enough? Do I need to do anything to the u joint to get it off or is there some other part I need to take off, is there some special technique to get it off?

Thanks.

Pull the inspection cover and check the bands aren't still attached to the pedals. It should slide off but could be stuck. Other than taking the 4 bolts free from the 4th main (top and bottom) it should wrestle out.

Few other people seem to do it but I have never had luck pulling a hogshead with the exhaust manifold on the engine. With the manifold removed I can lift the hogshead straight up and then back to clear the flywheel/bands/drums.

Is it getting bound up between the back of the engine block and the 4th main bearing?

The hogshead should remove by lifting straight up, sometimes a small tilt to the rear. Then when free of the engine block, tilt back to remove.

But be sure the rear U joint ball cap is free, remove bolts top and bottom. Sometimes sealant there keeps the back end down.

Free bands, and all other attachments like outside oil lines.

Check the back of your block. Early blocks are made straight just above the HH. Later blocks have a taper there to make it easier.
It can still be done on an early block, just takes a little more effort.

the block is literally just about touching the engine, but like one has said, maybe taking that exhaust off will let me pull straight up and towards me to clear the block and someone said something about the bottom ujoint bolts ill loosten them too to see if it helps. but my main issue is being that darn block right in the way.

Is it possible that the clutch release ring is caught on something?. Try wiggling the clutch shaft while cover is being pulled up
In any case, you'll need lots of elbow room to put it back on in order to slide the clutch ring into position

Remove the exhaust manifold. (it may be possible without removing the manifold, but I found it must be removed to re-install, so pull it now.)
Remove the 4th main bolts.
Pull back the 4th main about 3/8". You can use a stack of spacer washers or a 7/16 nut with a longer bolt to keep the ball cap back @ one or both of the lower 2 mount holes.
Pivot the HH up @ the front.

Reading all the problems of removing the hogshead in the car, I believe that it would be easier to take the engine out then it would be easier to remove the hogshead.

It is a PITA. Not so bad with an aluminum HH.
However, the time & extra work it takes to pull the motor isnt worth it.

If you are having this much strife getting the thing off, imagine putting it back on!
On our RHD cars getting the exhaust pipe out of the way often means taking the system off.
Sometimes the HH scrapes on the exhaust manifold getting it off. This means the exhaust manifold should come off, so you don't have to fight against it going back on.
Pulling back the fourth main cap widens the gap, also a help getting the thing back on.
I made a cradle to use when re-fitting the cover to take the weight of the thing as you juggle it into place. Then it can be a one man job.
Anything you can do to open up the gap and get stuff out of the way will help getting it back on.

Allan from down under.

Something must not be moving. I have a 24 Coupe and I finally took off the firewall and for me everything was easier to get to. I did it that way. Look closely with someone looking on as you move it up to see where it’s hitting on or dragging on.

Was the handbrake moving the clutch ring back and forth before you unbolted everthing?

Was the car running and driving before you took it apart?
Was it sitting up or???
To me it sounds like something under the hogsheads is not letting the HH move back or up.
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