Guys I am looking at pulling the 6.5 out for an overhaul but after having a preliminary look I can not even see or feel the bell housing bolts.

Can anyone advise if the engine can be removed on it's own or do you need to pull both the engine and tranny together???

:confused:

Once you remove the trans mount and cross-member and are able to drop the rear of the tranny and transfer case, you will get better access to, and maybe even feel and see the bell housing bolts. The driver's side is particularly restrictive on access because of the lip where the tranny tunnel meets the bottom of the firewall. I just left the trans secured on a transmission jack, unbolted everything and lifted the engine right outta there.

IMO B-housing bolts often best to be got at from below with long extension over the tranny,no need most time to remove the tranny mount or cross member.

i used a piece of 1 x 6 board to support the tranny and on top of the torsion bars.

IMO B-housing bolts often best to be got at from below with long extension over the tranny,no need most time to remove the tranny mount or cross member.

i used a piece of 1 x 6 board to support the tranny and on top of the torsion bars.

From my experience, you will still need the long extension bar to get at the upper most bolts on the trans. But on my truck, there was a clearance issue on the drivers side where no socket of any kind would engage securely because the bolt was partially hidden behind a lip extending from the tranny tunnel. So in my case, rather than cut away my truck, it was necessary to lower the rear of the trans in order to drop the assembly far enough to make the bolt accessible. I do not know if all trucks were made this way, but it was so on my vehicle. This is the only vehicle in my life that I have ever had that problem with, and thought that Aus may have had a similar problem.

Thanks guys, sounds like a real bitch to get at.

On my 4X4 the rear of the tranny will only drop a couple of inches before hitting the torsion bar cross member, is that the same on all trucks??

Didn't think that would give me enough room, perhaps I was wrong.

:chevy:

Can anyone advise the best lifting points to remove the engine???

On the torsion cross member, yes, it was the same on my truck.

Under the hood you should find two lifting rings, one on the front drivers side (not sure if you have an alternator or a A/c pump on that side, but its behind the accessory attached to the front of the head) and the other is attached to the rear of the passenger side head. I think those two points will be your best bet.

Thanks Mahatma, don't have any lifting rings as such but could make something up for the rear of the head and perhaps use the accessory bracket.

In that case maybe you can find something that will bolt onto one of the lower intake manifold studs. Those would make a pretty decent place to lift the engine as well.