How do I get my starter out?

[mrdol]

Boy I tried. Really tried. I spent about two hours just trying to get either a 10mm large allen wrench or a 10 mm allen drive socket into the hidden nut on the starter for an 87 3.2 cab. I removed the heating duct. I tried bear hugging the tranny but I could not get my right arm near the nut. The solenoid seems to be asking to removed to get to the nut. That would mean some wratchet flat head bit is used. I have read in posts that the starter can be removed but it may not be easy. This however looks impossible. I don't see how it is physically possible to get this nut off. Even it I could insert the drive socket I can't see how I can even turn a wratchet wrench. I am obviously missing some trick here. I had the car up high on one jack stand the wheels chocked. Any tips or picks would be appreciated. I have a standard Pelican starter in a box waiting for action.
thanks
eric

[afterburn 549]

well you could do a partial drop ( remove rear mount) and drop the engine dwn several inches-should help

[magic930]

Did you have the passenger side rear wheel off and a tin foil hat on? I have done this before its not easy, I think I ended up getting an open ended wrench on it somehow.

[walt]

I used a 6" long hex socket bit with ball end and 3/8 drive. Can't recall if I needed an extension or not. It worked fine, just difficult to engage the bit to the barrel nut since your working blind.

[mrdol]

I left all the wheels on. What do you mean tin foil hat? I thought that the g50 tranny might be larger than the g15 and therefore consume more of the space normally used for manuevering around the starter t get to the hidden hex head nut.

[randywebb]

You got the Allen into the nut?

But you weren't able to get your arm where you could exert leverage?

Is that right?

If so, maybe you aren't hugging it and reaching around it. Search on 'yoga' and you'll pop up a thread or two on how to position yourself. I usually lie partly on my left side.

IF it is something else, then try to explain exactly what.

[oneblueyedog]

Feel the barrel nut from the opposite side of the transmission. I worked my arm over the other side of the transmission with a long extension and 3/8 ratchet. The nut will have crud in the hex. Try to get the socket set deeply in the hex nut to avoid stripping. I used a regular nut after removal.

[buttjoint]

Take the time and do a partial drop, Its no big deal just remove the sway bar with the car on jackstands and lower the engine with the jack after you have removed the two rear mount bolts and the two tranny mount bolts. easy

[magic930]

With the wheel off you can manuever around in that area easier. A tin foil hat will help you concentrate and envision things which you cannot see

[JohnJL]

I used 2 4" extensions on the allen socket to get the rachet out beyond the starter for easy leverage and range of motion.

[pookie]

Did mine this past weekend, an easy job in comparison to others, just dirty. I used these

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200230274_200230274

had one that was a 10 mm, stuck it in layed feet facing out the rear of the car, leaning on my left side, reach around the transmission from the driver side back towards the starter on the passenger side. You will feel the nut, slip the key in there and push like a mo fo, a couple of sonofa*****es, helped me get the booger off.

Good luck

[slotcar]

One of the bolts is hex bolt, the catch is there isn't enough room to get the socket (on a traditional socket wrench) to fit. The flange of the transaxle (on a 915) doesn't leave much room. I ended up pulling the hex bit out of the socket, and used a box wrench to turn the bit (hope that makes sense). This was a PITA even with the engine out...be patient.

[JohnJL]

Pook is right too...you need to call it a few names.