I'm a new member
I have an 88 S-10 I just purchased
it has a small block Chevy motor and turbo 350 Trans
the Trans is bad
and was going to remove just the Trans
problem is the 2 bolts on the drivers side of the Trans are right up against the firewall
and cant get a wrench on them
even if I could would not be Abel to reinstall for sure
so it looks like I have to pull the motor and Trans together
and don't have a tilt built into my engine lift
it looks like removing the front clip being fenders and core support grill ext as one would be nice
then I could slide it out without going at a drastic angle
it has no inerfenders they were removed
I have done this with my old 68 camaro
it was like 8 bolts and the whole front end came off
I'm sure its not going to be that easy
any help would be great
randy

 

Should be able to take the fenders off with 13mm bolts, same with radiator support which has two 17mm or 18mm at the frame horns for body mounts.

 

What about loosening the body mount bolts ( 4 per side ) and jack up the body until you can access the 2 bolts? I had to do this on my '86 when I did a motor swap and it worked fine, just needed a long extension with a swivel socket and came up from underneath.

 

You could jack up the body as sunshine coaster has suggested or you could take out the tranny crossmember and let the rear of the tranny sag so you can get at the bolts with an extension and proper swivel socket. On mine I can take tranny out without any tricks.

 

thanks for the suggestions
I think I will try the body lift
not sure if I can get it up high enough to get at the bolt I need to get out
its half way up the firewall on the drivers side
also was told I could cut an access panel from inside to get the bolt out
tried the cross member deal
first cracked the cap on distributor
it has an hei
so then even with the cap off was hitting the base of the distributor
so tried taking it out
not enough clearance shaft to long
so had to jack up the Trans
got the distributor out that way
but still not enough room to get at the bolt
its turning into a hassle
remember its a small block V-8
not a V-6
and I think the after market dart heads might be a larger casting
I'm just not familiar with the S-10 engine bay
keep the suggestions coming
its coming out this weekend
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER !!
randy

 

don't know what else to tell you like I said mine comes out no problem. Last time I pulled my tranny out on a hoist it was sitting in a bucket draining in approx 20 minutes layin on my back doing it does take a little longer but still no problems getting at any bolts.. What motor mounts are you using? My tranny is still in the stock location after my swap is yours still in the stock location if it is you shouldn't be having o many problems.