I'm in the process of pulling my 2.8 out for a rebuild. How the hell do you guys get at those bellhousing bolts? Should I take off the top of the motor and go at it from the top?

 

lol, you're gonna laugh at this once you get them out, and even more when you have to put them back in. I had to use a combination of breaker bars, extensions, and joints (the combo changes for several of the bolts). I approached the bolts from behind the transmission and up and over all supports. I had the car on a lift though, so I could stand up while doing this, you're in for a lot of grief, very tedious btw. You might want to use penetrating oil on the bolts too. Chances are, they're in there very tight and will require you to make the absolute most of the lack of leverage because of the odd angles of the breaker bar. Best of luck and have fun!

 

Wow, so this is no joke, Chevy wasn't thinking about us when they put those bolts there. Well thanks for the heads up!

 

I always remove the engine and tranny together.

For the amount of labor that you are about to invest, you can't lose.

 

Would it be easier to pull the motor with the trany? I will hopefully be doing this in the next few months and it will be done in the driveway.

 

3 foot extension and swivel socket from the back of the trans. If you have the air available...air tools will make your life soooo much easier.

 

Yep, I put mine up as high as I could on jack stands and used a 3ft extension with a swivel end and then another foot of extension after that...I couldn't break 'em loose even then (the 3ft extension wastes a lot of torque with it)...so, I had to have my dad take a crack at it -- he was barely able to get 'em...it took everything he had. haha

Putting 'em back in was a piece of cake though...oh..and I didn't even need to take the hood off to take the engine out or when I put it back in. I love these little engines...hah.

 

Take off the driveshaft and tranny mount, then let the back of the tranny tilt down is how I've heard, but since the top is off my engine already, they can be easily reached. It's the two top ones that are the biggest pain on the small corp pattern (60*, 4cyl, and 3800II)

Haynes says to pull the tranny and engine together or cut a hole in the bell housing