How to get at the top two bellhousing bolts? 4.6

[ChazzyD]

Well I have been wrenching and wrenching to get this old blown 4.6 out of my Explorer. All is going OK, just very tedious work. I'm to the point of needing to get to the two top bellhousing bolts and can barely get fingers on them (painful even). The A/C lines and fuel lines, etc are really in the way. Anyone have some good advice to get them out? Can't see them from below at all. I'm thinking I may need to completely remove the side motor mounts, put the engine on the lift crane and lower it down some with the trans or pull the whole thing (engine and trans) forward a bit. Will that give me room to get them? Do I need to remove the intake manifold, valve covers? IDK. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Good used engine in the garage ready to go, to bad they busted the right valve cover as that one is broken on my old engine too though for different reasons.
Charles

 

[shucker1]

Pulling the intake and valve covers should give you a lot more room to work with.

You might try and search for a "Half Moon Obstruction Wrench" to make your life easier.

No kidding it's a wrench shaped like a big C.

 

[ChazzyD]

The more I read about these and watch youtube videos regarding the plastic intake manifold, the more I am convinced I need to remove the old intake AND the one on the used engine. So maybe there is my answer, it should give me room and I can be sure the intake is good and also gasketed. What a gigantic amount of labor this has ballooned into.
CD

 

[drdoom]

Props Chaz, I know that must be a horrendous task. Way to get after it. Best wishes.
Doc

 

[ChazzyD]

Thanks man, it is a bit bigger than I expected. Nothing like a V8 in the engine bay that was originally intended to have a 4 cylinder (the Ranger).

Well I got to looking at the new engine and realized the EGR tube is right over where the two bolts should be. Not really an easy task to get that thing loose when it's in the vehicle, but I managed it and then those two bolts became possible. They are now both out but scrapped up my hands pretty good. Glad I don't have to do that everyday. The driver's side one is especially difficult as it bolts a fuel line bracket as well. It will be fun to put back. Couldn't even fully remove it as it hits the firewall. I will just leave it there but should be backed out enough to not get in my way. Only things left to do are torque converter fasteners and the rest of the bellhousing bolts and I should be ready to pull it. I'll have to make a little wooden stand to put the old engine on.