Got the tranny out today and the new clutch installed on the engine. Ran out of daylight and my helper (son) had to go, plus I was bushed, so the tranny will go back in another day.
Most of the removal overall was uneventful, but I did run into a couple hang-ups.
Had issues getting the inner CVs off the flanges. A few solid whacks with a small sledge finally worked to free them.
I could not get the passenger side flange bolt out. Tried numerous times to seat the Allen bit, but it would just slip out with any real torque. It was at too awkward an angle with not enough room for me to tap it in, I guess. And I did not want to strip it. So I left it in, leading to….
Getting the tranny out was a struggle. I was bench pressing it down, engine held up with jack and block of wood. Right flange was hanging up on the tin separator plate and flywheel. Finally got it to clear that a bit, and the other side of the diff housing was jammed against the subframe and sway bar. What finally helped clear that was jacking the motor up—I had lowered it a bit before to get those three horizontal mount bracket bolts out. Fifth gear end was hanging very low (too low to get my body under it) and input shaft was gouging the pressure plate, but I finally got it to come down. On my arm, but not really too bad.
Oil all over the back of the engine. Zero on any clutch surface. Some of it definitely dripping from my leaking valve cover, but a few flywheel bolts had engine oil on the threads, so I ran out to Autozone who had a Fel-Pro RMS in stock to replace it. Had to let the bolts pull that into position to fully seat it. Left the plastic install tool in the seal until it just fell out on its own. I hope there's enough sealant where it mates with the oil pan.
With the tranny out, I was able to tap the 6mm Allen bit into the flange bolt, and it pulled that out. That should make reinstallation of the tranny easier.
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