Capri - Ring Gear Replacement

As I wrote in my last post, the green Capri has been getting harder to start because of the broken ring gear. (Read the previous post of the 18/8/2014 about how I first discovered this.) Anyway, this was the motivation I needed to do this major repair job and because I had nothing on the home front agenda, there were no excuses. I rang Yesterford in Melbourne to see if a replacement ring gear was available. Yes, it was for $125 +$18 postage so that meant on with the job. I think I have also located a spare starter motor but that is next on the agenda.
To do this job, I decided to pull the complete engine out & take off the flywheel complete with ring gear this way. Others may do it differently, but I would not be able to do it by removing the gearbox & doing this under the car. So that meant, the engine crane had to come out of retirement. Once everything was in the correct place - car & crane, the dismantling started.

1. First off with the bonnet & my neighbour helped me with this. We have done this a few times now.
2. Then the radiator & hoses came out.
3. Working on the left side, the earthing wire, temp gauge wire, alternator wires, starter motor & exhaust pipe came off.
4. Then on the other side, the coil wires, heater hoses, vacuum hose, carbie cables & possibly something else I have forgotten.
5. Then I loosened the 8 bolts attaching the engine to the bell housing & removed the engine mount bolts

Here are some photos so far.


Next little problem was where was I going to attach the crane. I had not previously lifted the complete engine out like this. A quick trip to Bunnings located two steel brackets that would give height & strength to the lifting points. I screwed one in with the earthing bolt on the front LHS of the block & the other to the rear inlet manifold bolt on the RHS.
Then to support the gearbox with my little seat on wheels together with a few decent wood blocks. Another check & I think everything that should have been disconnected was & out of the way. I raised the crane but things did not separate so that was  enough for one day.
Next morning back to the task & after lifting the gearbox a bit more & raising the crane a bit more & with a bit of levering, the sections separated & I moved the crane back taking the engine right out.
Next the clutch came off without any dramas but removing the flywheel involved jamming a wrecking bar to enable me to undo the rather tight bolts. At last it was out & the missing teeth are shown in the photos. Also, the starter motor shows the piece of metal missing which was located at the rear of the bell housing.
I did this engine up in 2012 & it was good to see no leaks. I will do a complete tighten of everything & a bolt holding the alternator is missing.
There are two different ring gears suitable for this engine (254 or 257 mm id). After carefully measuring, I ordered the 257 mm but later in the day & after having a good look at the flywheel, I am sure I have ordered the incorrect one. When it comes next week we will see. Very prompt service from Mike at Yesterford.
The rest of the day was spent cleaning up the engine bay & the engine. Here are some photos of everything so far.