I have a 2000 gmc jimmy 4.3 v6 4x4 4 door. its in great shape except the engine. blew the piston rings. anyway the hanes manual says to detach the trani from the engine and take just the engine out and them mate them back together while inside the car. this sounds potentially dangerous to the trani if they don't line up nicely i could easily break the input shaft of the trani. also it seams impossable to get to the upper 4 bell housing bolts off.

My question is... has anyone ever taken the engine and trani out with them still mated together. This seams like the logical thing to do but i've run into some trouble.
the whole front of the car had to be removed and i have removed the drive shafts and the transfer case. the engine and trani is now loose in the engine bay but i cant clear the bottom of the oil pan past the front drive axle. and it seams ridiculous to have to remove the axel to get the engine out.
if you need pictures to clairify let me know.

please help

Matt

 

you can try removing the motor mounts from motor, lower the motor back down, gently. this should give you enough room to get to the other trans bolts. unbolt the torque converter from the motor, leaving it in the trans. use a jack, blocks, or what ever to support the trans. to gain a little more room, remove all the accessories from front of motor, including the brackets. it will come out, just motor.