3550 swap front d/s removal?

[LoneRanger]

It's been a while so I am a little foggy, how the heck do you get to the bolts on the transfercase side to remove the front driveshaft? I have zero room, and a negative amount of leverage!

I am almost thinking it may be easier to grab a big jack stand and hold up the transfercase and drop the entire tranny crossmember just to get to the damn driveshaft out!?!?!?

Lord help the sucker that blows out a shaft while wheeling!

Discuss!

L.R.

 

[SHX669]

I access mine by removing the "shifter boot" - the hole in my floor is big enough to get a wrench on the bolt heads.

 

[JKrieg70]

I had to cut a box end wrench in half to get it off from the bottom side. Going through the shifter boot hole or an "access hatch" on the tunnel can be an option as well.

 

[LoneRanger]

I hadn't thought of removing the shifter boots, I'll give that a go.

What a pita though!


L.R.

 

[localrich]

Swap out for 12 point bolts 5/16 24tpi 1.25" then you can use a ratcheting wrench in there.

 

[DirtDonk]

Hmm, not sure I've ever run into this issue. Yes it's tight, but always had enough room for a standard (but small) combination wrench.
I remove the front joint first of course, then hold the shaft up to clear each set of bolts. It's a pain to juggle that and either have it alternately in gear and then in neutral to spin until the others clear, then lock in gear again. Or if you're young and still have your good Kung-Fu Grip going on, you can do it all from underneath without having to resort to jamming something up, or shifting the case in and out of gear.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[LoneRanger]

I pulled the tranny crossmember, 15 mins and that was down then it was easy. No way in hell I was going to reach those from the top side!

L.R.