Hello friends one and all Long time no speak but frequently lurking.


Was wondering if anyone happens to know the secret sauce to getting the top two bellhousing volts for a 4.7 with a 6-speed two-wheel drive.

Have already tried long extensions and lowering the tail housing of the transmission after unbolting the crossmember but still can't seem to get it low enough to get to the top two bolts where do I need to drill a hole what's the magic trick here it's cold I have a compressed disc in my back and I can't afford to pay somebody to do this looking for guidance if anyone has any suggestions.


Pic for Attention.

 

Step 1: suffer
Step 2: cry a little
Step 3: use a shallow socket on a 3" extention, a swivel, then as many extentions as you have.
Step 4: cry a lot

I found it easiest to put the socket on by hand first. The exhaust will need to come out, drop the rear of the trans and reach in and follow the edge till you feel the bolt. If you can slip the socket on, it will be easier from there. I last did this about 5 years ago. Had to drop three Trans and install two without a jack.

Edit: there are two positions for the engine mounts depending on drivetrain. I think the 2wd uses the lower mounts, but the top ones should have a slot rather than a hole. It will raise it up a bit, but might allow you a more extreme angle to access the bolts.

 

Well.......... Sh*t........... Ok I appreciate you!!!

 

Depending on what tools/equipment you have at your disposal - how much sanity you are lacking - you could try taking the two engine mount bolts out entirely and lowering the engine and Trans a few inches to work on it. If tilting everything be careful of the pcm wiring that runs along the firewall. At extreme angles the engine can crush them.

 

This is the tip my pops gave me, he did this on a 2nd gen ram MANY times.... and it's the same bellhousing bolt pattern on the 4.7 I believe.

I'm going to try taking the mount bolts half way out and disconnecting the exhaust if it's not too rusty. at the cat/downpipe interface.


I couldn't help but notice...
There's lots of room for a Turbo under here...

 

not on dakota, but on a jeep wrangler, what we did was get them through the hole for the shifter after lowering the transmission down a bit on the rear. from underneath, they were impossible to get to.

to note, i'm expecting 6 speed to be manual in this case, as i don't think the automatic was ever a 6 speed on the dak. Hence why the "shifter hole" comment. might be an option that could help you.

 

Did you manage to get the bolts out? What worked?