I thoiught i'd do an update. All is repaired now. The selector box was flogged out & i put in a nearly new one in. When i bought my nisspat (156k) the previous owner said that he had put a clutch in at 120k. Whoevever did it tore the top of the rubber that fits over the gearlever housing. So no dirt was getting in from the underneath of the car but as the next layer of rubber was torn as well ie inside the cab, little bits of red dust have been going from the cab into the gearbox via the selector housing. There is dirt residue in the bottom of the control housing. So the lifespan of the box will be shortened. I put all new rubbers in (3 pieces). One has to be pop riveted onto the metal frame.
I pulled out the intercooler, radiator & split the exhaust pipe to lower it down but in hindsight i think i would leave the radiator in place next time and only remove the hoses and cowling.Also had to remove both driveshafts & the nut that holds the handbrake cable on to the chassis.Took the crossmember off the chassis but left it bolted to the tranfer case. There are two wires to be unplugged on the top of the selector box when you get it down a bit. Had to take out the drivers seat to give me more room to clean up the surface of the gearbox.
With it lowered down you have a fair bit of room in the tunnel but it will take two people to get it out & in as the housing has to go straight up and then be twisted to get it into the cab. One in the clean, one in the dirt. It is very easy to move the selector rings in the box when it's going back in. We had to do it half a dozen times to get it right. Took about 90 mins.
It was much easier & quicker than taking out the gearbox
