Remove the bottom cover and put a couple of fingers full of grease on the inside on top of the drain hole to catch it ? Mo

Alternatively, if you don't have it, you'll need the later clutch pedal (the arm is flat bar instead of the U shaped channel). Use this later pedal along with the later over centre spring which fits on the pedal (not the coil spring which attaches to a bolt on the pedal box). This later spring...

Helicoils are quite straightforward to do, read the instructions and take it step by step, drill, tap, fit coil, make sure that the coil is properly seated in the thread, remove the tang. I've done thousands using Recoil kits which I've found very good. HTH Mo

It'll be really useful and interesting to see feedback from those who are going to fit the pin and the ring to see how much real life difference they make. Mo

How did you get on Ian ? Mo

Fronteras also had VM engines fitted for a while in the early 90s. Might be worth a look. HTH Mo

They are not interchangeable unless you change the hoses to suit. Mo

Wouldn't it need a shorter input shaft to go with the shorter bell housing ? Mo

They are interchangeable except for the later 300 tdi ones with electronic control. Mo