HELP: "Bitch Clip"
 

So I picked up the Pelican Parts bushing rebuild kit and I was doing pretty well until I got to this *&%$#@ thing. :mad: I've tried going at it from underneath with a screw driver and a hammer, tried slipping a small screwdriver from the front (top of the tranny) and prying it upwards. I've even tried going from the side I can't see and prying it sideways and upwards but this is getting me nowhere - fast. I've got the driveshaft still in but have got the selector rod removed and the one bushing at the other end of the shifter rod out.

Any ideas fellas?

what one in the pic?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/johnono/sk.jpg

#3 - the bearing bolt/carrier pin

anyone?

do you want 3 taken off, or separated from 1 ?

If you're talking about the pin that connects the aluminum shifter bracket to the top of the tranny, you have to spread the clip and then pop it up, once it's lifted up, then the pin can slide out. You can't see it with it in the car, but there's a little hook on it that catches on the transmission housing. Try, sticking a medium sized screwdriver in there and then twisting it while prying up. It'll eventually lift up and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Also, FWIW, when I say twist the screw driver, I don't mean turn the screw driver like you're loosening a screw. I mean actually pull it to the inside while you're prying up to disengage that hook.

I ultimately want to have 3 taken off but right now I just need to get it lifted up from the flange on 1 so then I can separate it by pulling it out of 1.

Two things: 1. What do you mean by 'pull it to the inside'
2. Are you suggesting I put a screwdriver on the passenger side of the flange? I see only 1 way to do it but truely doesn't seem possible to work from that side.

I've been able to get a screwdriver under the driver side of the clip and can get under it a bit (after I think I chipped away a bit of the tranny housing), but just doesn't seem enough to pry up. I've got a small screwdriver, a medium sized one and a long one. I've been able to pry from the bolt itself but obviously not enough to bring it out far enough to actually make any real progress.

I've read up on this on a handful if sites and most reference the 6-cyl engines and many of the techniques don't seem to apply. I'd break this clip if I could but I can't even see a way of doing that.

When I installed my short shifter, I used a heavy mallet to drive a fairly large screwdriver straight up and under the U.S. driver's side of the clip (so the shaft of the screwdriver is vertical and the tip is wedged underneath the left side of the clip). Hammer away at the head of the screwdriver and you'll eventually pop the clip off, or crack the left side off trying. Probably the latter, but it's better than wasting time trying to save it.

Alright mang, you're lucky I have a few trannys sitting in THE FRONT of my garage. These pics were taken from the the top front of the transmission looking back:

The clip
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/Cimg2413.jpg

Preferred prying method
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/Cimg2414.jpg

Alternate prying method
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/Cimg2415.jpg

Clip disengaged
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/Cimg2410.jpg

Side view(notice the flange on the transmission housing)
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/Cimg2407.jpg

Front view of clip disengaged and rotated back
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/Cimg2411.jpg

Slide pin outward
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/Cimg2416.jpg

Hope that helps. No need to destroy the clip or damage the transmission.

Oh man!
 

Thanks jess. I really appreciate you taking the time to take the pix. I had read something similar on ronstygar's page and another on BF.com I think. Unfortunately I wish it were that easy. The tranny is still in the car so I've only got about 3" of space between the bottom of the car and the top of the tranny. Not to mention to diff is still in place and there isn't a whole lot of room to begin with in there.

That's how I've removed the 5 or 6 that i've done. Limited space, driveshaft still attached etc. You should be able to get the screwdriver under the front of the clip, angle the screwdriver towards the inside and then pop the clip loose. You'll get a couple more inches by loosening the aluminum crossmember that the tranny mounts to and tilting the tranny down in the rear. I'd put a jack under the tranny first, as to lower it slowly. The whole engine is going to tilt, don't be scared.

Edit; BTW, it's just the 4 bolts that hold that bracket to the chassis, not the two that go to the rubber tranny mounts. Also, if you haven't already done so, pop the clips off of the shifter linkage and remove it to allow the tranny to tilt completely. Don't lose those plastic washers and remember the position of the bend in the arm as a refference for when you reinstall it.

Hey Bud, how'd it work out for ya? Hope you were able to get it, sorry I didn't mention tilting the transmission until after, I honestly forgot all about that step.