I am in the process of replacing my AW4 solenoids.
The removal of the oil pan was going great until I went to lower the pan. Turns out the space between the exhaust and the cross member holding the AW4/TC as a good 2-3 in shorter than the oil pan. (is this normal?)
I was able to get the pan out by disconnecting the exhaust pipe at the header and hanging one-handed from it whilst jiggling the pan out.
The problem now is that I cant get it back up there without smacking the pan with the gasket into the cross member and grinding it against it to get it past the exhaust. This would mess up the gasket and fill the pan with all sorts of old junk hanging off the cross member. Also with the exhaust in its current position I cant get the dipstick tube to lineup without that filling up with all sorts of nasty as well.
To make matters worse the exhaust hanger and cross member bolts are almost rusted away so I cant just undo those and move it out of the way.

Does anyone have any idea of what I can do?

I though about cutting the exhaust off but it would be a pain to weld it back up. But since I'm not a good welder that is kind of off the table as well.

1990 engine, exhaust, aw4, tc, cross member and driveshaft in a 1992 body.

 

For one, you can tape the dip stick tube up so you don't get gunk in it.

As far as getting it up in there I'd say clean the x-member off as best as you can and get a helper to hold the exhaust out of your way.

 

Tape... Genius! Now for the rest.. I guess I'll have to take on the dreaded x-member.
Do you know the bolt head size?