I found out the bolts thread into the engine block. I removed the starter anyway.

What a PIA it was today! Everything was going just fine, until the bottom bolt of the torque converter bolt access plate WOULD NOT come out. Even with a 6 point 10mm socket, the socket ended up rolling off the bolt head, making it impossible for the socket to grip the head. I had to remove the line between the transmission and the heat exchanger in order to drive a 3/8" 6 point on to the bolt head. Then I used a plethora of extensions and hit it with a 1/2" impact wrench. It still would not budge. I was PO'd!! I ended up bending the access plate down so that I could access the torque converter bolts. Removing the rear most hose from the heat exchanger turned our nice clean work place into a spilled ATF work place.

Anyway, new tranmission, t-case, and rear drive line is back in. I was only able to replce the supply side fuel hose. I couldn't reach the top end of the return hose, so I'll do the return side tomorrow morning. I needed to change my fuel filter anyway. I ran out of light, so I still need to finish routing the wiring, fill the t-case with Dexron III, fill the transmission, and install the front drive line. The 3-wire voltage limiter, or whatever it is called, is coming tomorrow, so I'll be able to get that installed. I can't wait to drive it again!

 

dont fret about the access plate we ended up having to grind the bottom ones head off to even get to bend the plate. sounds like it wasnt too painful of an expierence.

 

Royta, way to go! Sounds like your on the home stretch. Good luck with the rest of it.

Sure would be nice if you could post an overall summary of the job. I thought about it when I needed a new tranny for about a minute! Sure would like to hear about what you would have done different, short cuts, etc. I think it would really help others who are considering the job.

Whats the best soap to get tranny fluid out of your hair? KD

 

That's the part that frustrated me when I couldn't get the bottom bolt loose on the access plate. Everything was so clean up until that point. Sure, it was no big deal to bend the plate down, but I like things done right, and bending the plate down was kind of hack. The original trans was rebuilt by the previous owner, so I was pretty ticked at the fellow who did the work. The engine to trans bolts were overly tight, there was enough thread locker on the four trans mount bolts on the underside trans to lock all the fasteners on a fleet of tanks, and other small but frustrating problems.