GM7203

I'm looking for some advice from a knowledgable person about removing my engine. There are 2 or 3 star shaped bolts going into the top of the block from the bell housing. I can't see how to remove them.
My thoughts are that maybe I can go under my jeep, with a couple of long extensions, a universal, a wratchet, and a socket to remove them. But...if there is one on the top behind the head, I have no clue. So this leaves me wondering if people take out the bell housing attached to the motor? Honestly I have not paid enough attention to know if the trans can be unbolted from the bell housing.
Maybe I should start taking pictures and start a how to thread for finishing removal, and then for the installation of the next engine.

grsmnky1

Those are external torx bolts. I cannot get to my tools right now to look at what size, but i know i had to buy a set to get the correct one. I believe it was a set of 4 sockets. I got one out but the other one had siezed up and i ended up pulling the entire drivetrain to get that one dam bolt out. Mine only had 2 at the top of the bellhousing. I used a 2 ft extension and lowered the rear of the tranny to get the one i did get out.

Jeepjunky

im pretty sure its either a size 8 or 10 when i did mine and they were torc but i was able to use a regular socket with a swivel and 2 1/2-3 feet of extensions to get the top ones and had to get them from underneath the jeep.

GM7203

Cool! I kind of thought that was how I would have to do it. Are there just the two, or is there one at the top in the middle?
Thanks you are a gentleman and a schollar!
Greg

SNIDELYWHIPLASH

Yep, they're E12 bolts.

You'll need one of these:

Jeepjunky

well i have to ask how many do u have out so far?

GM7203

I do have the reverse torx sockets available, but I did not get the bolts out today. As it stands, I think I just need to remove these two, unbolt the motor mount bolts, secure the AC compressor to the battery box area, and run a strap to support the transmission. I should be pulling the engine Wednesday.

Wish me luck, and thanks for the help.

Greg

xjguy71

There is two torch bolts on top of bellhousing. NIGHTMARE. I finally got mine w extensions and went in from shifter hump inside jeep. I stripped one in the battle and had to use bolt xtractor socket to get it out. When bolting back up throw torx bolts out. Put regular bolts in. Good luck. I tried every angle underneath on the side. None worked. The inside cab thru shifter hump worked great

GM7203

@ XJguy71

Dude your killing me here... LOL! I don't want to tear into the interior too just to remove those two damn bolts. But I agree. Those bolts will be replaced, with socket head bolts.
Next time I pull the motor, it will be to install a 4 cylinder cummins turbo diesel.

xjguy71

It wasn't destructive. Lol. I just pulled carpet back enuff to expose shifter hump hole. It was worth it. I fought those torx bolts for two days. Its worth it.

troy fritz

Hook a picker to the motor and pull the bolts to the motor mounts. Drop the motor a few inches and use a 3/8 12 point wrench with a cheater bar on it to remove. There are 2 of them. I remove the intake to get in from the top. Works great for me.

trakr

Ive got a 2000 im fixing to pull, are those bolts on it too? I wont be suprised if they are

wjnfirearms

When we swapped the motor in the '97, those bolts were a pain. They had to be reached from under with an extension and swivel, like was already stated. No way around that.

And they were replaced with regular bolts.

etanthegreat138

there were three on my 2001 xj. Somehow they backed out, probably because of lack of thread lock. But trying to find out how long they were to replace them. Help would be nice. But when I changed my engine I just pulled the head off and got them from the top. Reinstalling them was from under and with the granny crossmember dropped. Just learn from my mistake and check them after a couple hundred - a thousand miles. Or use semi thread lock.

JerrytheJeep

There are only ever 2. It helps to have the tranny on a jack and lower it down a bunch so you can get a bunch of extensions up there. Yes they suck, but you shouldn't have to cut through the floor to get em.