This could be the hardest bolt to remove??
 

I am in the process of a starter swap on an 89 with a G50. The bottom barrel nut of the starter is no problem. Too bad they put one at the top. It actually took me 10 minutes just to get my fingers on it. I have read that you can reach up from the other side of the tranny to grab this bolt, but I think this is for smaller 915 transmissions. The hydraulic clutch bleed blocks any chance to grab this bolt, unless you have arms like Manute Boll. I am questioning whether this can be done without an engine drop( or partial one). If anyone has done this on 87-89, please let me know. Thanks.

A partial engine drop is not that difficult. Unhook some stuff and lower it a few inches. Then bearhug the tranny. Still, it won't be easy.

Try a long ten to twelve inch extension for the bit. Feed it over the starter. Do all you can to clean out the bolt head before leaning into it. You don't need this one stripped!

87-89 requires lowering the nose of the trans. then it's a lot easier, but still a tad tight. obviously, a jack is needed under the trans, and various items like the shift rod need to be disconnected first.

I used a 10 mm hex key cut off to about 2 inches, and one of those 10 mm ratcheting box end wrenches, worked like a charm. I had to remove the flapper box to get enough room to really torque on it since a gorilla put on my started but did not lower the motor, this was on an 1988. SO "requires lowering" is too strong a statement, may be much easier after it is done, but it is not required.

Jim

Most flapper boxes I've seen are so rusted that removing them breaks the studs. I think lowering the transmission would be less risky.
-Chris

saddly for you eastern boys that is likely true, but not so here in CA. I will add you can undo the bolt without removing the flapper box, however I needed to get about a 8 inch long wrench extender for more torque, if you know what I mean, so I remove the box to get that on the wrench.


good luck either way

Buy a 6 inch long 10mm hex key with a round end so you can pivot it a little bit. Cut a 6 inch piece, epoxy it to a 10mm socket, and you get yourself a good tool for this job.

Still require a tranny bearhug but it is a bit easier.

Did some more R and R and lowering the tranny is the way I'm going. Bentley recommends the same thing. I'd rather loosen a few more bolts then spend an hour swearing at the Porsche engineers!