Can anyone please confirm what is required as far as dropping the front crossmember to allow removal of the manual gearbox on my 79 RS2000. Is it necessary to disconnect the sway bar and the steering column as well ?
Any information would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Paul

Disconnect the steering column at the coupling; no need to do the sway bar. This thread may help:
 
http://www.classic-ford.org/cfp/tm.aspx?m=58615
 
 
 
 

Thanks for the reply, much appreciated. I'll disconnect the steering column and see how I go with the longer bolts.
Regards,
Paul

Only if you have a larger sump.
Just prop the front of the engine up, so the rocker cover sits on the firewall.
Loosening subframe bolts holding the X member on, gives you little more room to move.
Why remove steering components?

Hi Maxrs,
I ended up loosening the bolts on the lower coupling on the steering column and also dropped the sway bar from its mounts. Then it was easy to drop the crossmember a couple of inches. Seemed like a lot of work but not too hard. This definitely gave me plenty of room to remove and replace the gearbox. Thankyou for your advice, I'll definitey look at things a bit more the next time I remove the gearbox. It almost seemed that it would be easier to lift the engine and gearbox out as one unit through the bonnet.
Thanks again.
Best regards,
Paul

For those who have a sierra 5 speed with the standard gearbox tunnel, that is the only way to get it out, standard 4 speed is a bit easier.