Help with gearbox removal

[Tonym3]

Hi, I am currently half way through removing the gear box from my 1993 4.3 Chimaera, early box I have been following the "bible" which like all good guides has got me so far then casually tells me that I can now remove the gear box without any mention of the bolts going through the bell housing to the back of the engine!

This is the first gearbox I have removed so please excuse me if this is a stupid question but,
1: do I need to remove these bolts? (I'm assuming I do as it looks like its the only way the gear box is attached to the rest of the engine.
2: if I do then how the hell do you get to the two on top of the bell house cover!!! I have managed the first three on the passenger side and thinking can get to the ones on the drivers side, but can not find a way onto the top ones.

Please can anyone give me some advice?

Any help would be appreciated

Tony

[slideways]

The bolts at the gearbox / bell housing join should be all you need to undo, the bell housing to engine bolts should be left in.
Have you undone the linkage above?

[carsy]

Am i right in thinking its the Rover LT77 box. Universal / wobble joint and extentions to get to the top bellhousing to engine bolts.

The box and bellhousing will not come out in one piece as there is not enough room to pull it back before it hits the chassis.

Split bellhousing from engine and then get inside bellhousing to undo the bolts securing bellhousing to gearbox. Gearbox can then be pulled back and dropped out.

[Tonym3]

Thanks for the replies, yes it is a LT77, I read it as you needed to take them both out together. It would make life easier if I could split them first.
I take it if the bolts I'm referring to are the ones holding the bell house to the engine? I thought the bolts holding the gearbox to bell house were inside the bell house which I why you needed to take them off together?

[Tonym3]

carsy said:

Am i right in thinking its the Rover LT77 box. Universal / wobble joint and extentions to get to the top bellhousing to engine bolts.

The box and bellhousing will not come out in one piece as there is not enough room to pull it back before it hits the chassis.

Split bellhousing from engine and then get inside bellhousing to undo the bolts securing bellhousing to gearbox. Gearbox can then be pulled back and dropped out.

Sorry just re-read your answer I think you have answered my question, so I need to disconnect the bell housing from the engine first then I can disconnect the bell housing and gear box.
I was hoping it would be easier!!!
I had removed the gear lever should I remove the linkage before dropping?

[carsy]

Just trying to think back. Pretty sure i didnt remove the linkage. Its the later T5 box you have to remove all the linkage bits n pieces.

[Tonym3]

carsy said:

Just trying to think back. Pretty sure i didnt remove the linkage. Its the later T5 box you have to remove all the linkage bits n pieces.

All it says in the bible is to remove the gear lever, doesn't look like anything else will get in the way, just got to get those pesky bolts off!
Thanks for your help
Tony