Ok, so just because I don't own a Jeep does not mean I don't still work on them. Over the weekend I helped pull the trans out of a friends XJ so we can swap out the shot throwout and get it back on the road, and I learned a few things along the way...

Everything went smooth, for the most part. Pulling the trans took two of us about 6 hours total over two days (two Sunday afternoons). The first day we got the drive shafts off and every thing unplugged and unbolted, except for those two stupid bolts on the top of the bell housing. So we left it for a week while we asked for advise on how to remove those two bastards. This was two weeks ago.

Fast forward to yesterday, we get back at it again. Turns out the easy way to get to them is to tilt the engine trans assembly down. To do this we had to remove the fan shroud and loosen the motor mounts. With the engine dropped we could see the stupid star head bastard bolts. One came out easy with a wired specialty socket, the other however, did not. Turns out the last mechanic that had the trans out stripped it, and then we finished it off. So after one trip to Pepboys and three to Sears we had the tool we needed to get it out, a nifty little thing that was hammered on to the bolt head.

With all the bolts out and the trans strapped to the jack it took the two of us laying under the Jeep pushing on the TCase with our feet to wiggle it loose, but it worked! Once we got it out from under the Jeep we loaded it in the truck and it's off for its date with about a gallon of degreaser and a pressure washer.

So what did I learn? I learned that whoever designed this Jeep and decided to use those two bolts needs to be shot, repeatedly. I also learned that I can sit almost upright under a Jeep XJ with only a 6" lift and 33's. Also, I learned that the trans/transfercase assembly from a Jeep isn't as heavy as it looks, just awkward. Also learned that in lieu of a trans jack an ATV/Motorcycle jack will do the trick. And lastly I learned to undo the exhaust BEFORE the trans is resting on it... lol

So yup, that's my fat ass crammed under the Jeep working on the upper bastard bolts with our makeshift 4ft extension, and thats me pushing on the t-case, so I don't want to hear any more crap about owning a Ranger! Haha!