I just had the clip on the detent cable that attaches to the throttle body break. I ordered a new detent cable however, do I have to drop the tranny pan to install it? From what I have seen it looks like a simple job and not something that requires removing the tranny pan.

It can be put in without pulling the pan. Thats how I have always done it.:rockon:

Take your time removing the old cable out of the transmission. If I remember correctly, theres just like a little hook sorta in the trans, and a hole in the end of the cable the hook goes through. You just kinda pull the hook up out of the trans a lil bit, and attach the cable, then lower the cable and plastic bracket down in place, and then put the screw back in. Its really not that hard, but on the ground everything is a pain in the ***.

Your job will be much easier if you drop the cross member. It'll give you more room to work with your hands while its on the ground.

Do yourself a favor though. Buy a new transmission mount if you drop the crossmember. you'll be one bolt away from replacing it. If its the stock mount then its probably old, and torn up. You can replace it with an Energy Suspension mount if you don't mind a little extra interior noise.

The hardest part about his job is keeping the tranny side of the cable hooked up. It likes to slip off the hook unless you can keep some tension on the cable. A 2nd person is really helpful here.

Thanks for all the help. I did it last night and I didn't think I would be able to finish it. At one point I had the cable hooked up and attached to that little hook but I forgot to put the grommet on there. Fortunately I did not have to drop the transsmission at all I was able to work with the tiny amount of room there was.

I cannot imagine what a pain it would be to drop the tranny though. Lucky me a while back the tranny mount broke and a shop did it for me for I think under $40, that includes parts and labor.

Its 5 bolts to unbolt the crossmember. You don't remove the transmission. It takes me all of 5 minutes to unbolt the crossmember and drop the trans for better access.

Not very hard at all. Dropping the cross member would have given you another 3 or 4" of room to work.