NOW HIRING IN DFW: help me change out some sensors!

[green95ss]

WANTED: a nearby Pelican with the strength of Hercules and hands the size of a 5-year old. Looking for someone who will work for pizza and beer...

I'm having the toughest time getting the speed & reference sensors out of the bracket by the tranny bellhousing. I've gotten the allen bolt out from the bottom sensor (and stripped it out nicely) and it has moved about 1/8" out from the bracket. Upon closer look, the silver housing is not moving when I jiggle and work the sensor out, so that tells me that the sensor wire is separating from the magnet... Great....

I can't even get the allen bolt for the top sensor out... So I tried to remove the bracket as a whole and can't get the lower bolt (seems to be only accessible if the tranny was out, or if I had a deep, box-end 10mm wrench (if such a thing exists)).

I thought that once I got that grommet out (which I pushed through into the engine compartment, so I'll have to slit it for the CHT sensor to go back in from the bottom), it would be smooth sailing, but this is a PITA! Any assistance from a local Pelican? I'm calling in a lifeline...

BACKGROUND:
My '87 won't start. I narrowed the issue down to the speed & reference sensors because of the following:

- No coil pulses during cranking (using an LED test light across 15 and 1
- No injector pulses while cranking (using an LED test light across pins from injector #4's plug)
- No spark when pulling a test plug and grounding it and cranking
- New DME relay (although it didn't need it)
- Jumpered fuel pump fuse and still no start
- ICV valve vibrates when key on (DME relay good)
- Fuel pump runs when key is turned
- Resistance on sensor (bottom plug) can't be measured, while middle plug measures correct resistance
- CHT measures correct resistance (although it wouldn't cause a no-start issue anyway)
- Car has gas in it

I have a new coil on the way from our host as well...just in case since the one I'm using has 138K on it.

PM me for my number--I live in Colleyville (about 10 mins from DFW airport)

[green95ss]

C'mon guys--any helpers around for someone who is having a hard time? Is this even doable from under the car with the engine still in it?

[GH85Carrera]

Yes it is possible. Unfortunately you have to do a lot of it by feel. I have seen it done in 20 minutes. The grommet for the wires that go into the engine compartment can be a pain to do as well.

Getting the proper gap on the sensors during re-install is important as well.

A mechanic friend of mine often says "if it were easy anybody could do it"