Trying to get the 4.0 motor out of my 98 XJ and I cannot for the life of me get the 3/8" 12 point transmission bolt out to top on the passenger side. It's actually in line with the back of the valve cover and straight down the back. I tried a 3/8" combo with another combo locked to the top of it to get some leverage and couldn't budge it. Couldn't get it to move with a swivel and extension on a ratchet. The clearance b/t the bolt and the firewall is too much to get anything bigger than a 3/8 drive on it. And theres a stud sticking out the firewall that restricts the radius I can get for leverage.

Me, my dad and a buddy all tried and had no luck.

Any insight?

If it comes down to it I'll be pulling the damn trans with the motor.

 

The best way for me is to lower the trany,put the two lower bolts back in to hold the motor and disconnect the driveshaft and xfercase linkage and wires,then lower it to get the bolt out,raise it back up and remove lower bolts,do not forget the cps. It may sound like alot but it only takes about an hour,I am sure you have spent mor time than that already.

 

^ effin eh. good idea. and yea, spent about an hour and 1/2 on it already. busted knuckles, cold. sucked.

 

honestly i just gave up and pulled the trans. with the motor... however a buddy of mine (a toyota tech) told me that i should have been able to take off the trans crossmember an the motor mounts ... lifted the engine with a hoist and lower the trans down which would of tilted the entire engine/trans an been able to get at it no problem from underneath. hope this helps and i know .... i want to kill whoever came up with those trans bolts too

 

Just have to loosen the cross memeber and let it tilt back,the motor mounts will give enough,put a jack under the front of the trany after motor has been removed just to support it.

 

I have seen it done by removing the center console and getting it from the top. Its a straight shot so you wont need any swivels. This will let you put some force on the bolt. Hope this helps.