I don't know a good way to do it. I've done it with 1/4" drive extension between the drive shaft cover and the pan going into a socket. That works for some of the bolts, then I got the others with a wrench. It takes forever.

I'd be really curious to hear if someone has a better way.

Why are you removing the oil pan ?

 

It is held on by Torx though, and I don't have a (40?) torx that will fit a 1/4" drive.. theres no way to get a wrench on them cause they are round.

And I take my car off roading more often than I should in a lowered car so I kinda had it comin haha but a big old plate of steel is getting made to protect this one!

 

Ah yes,

The later ones had a torx head bolt. Fun. Now, I remember.

I specifically bought a long torx set after this job.

Super price on SK Hand Tool 84220 at ToolTopia.com

I borrowed the bit I needed that day. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.

 

I've taken 2 off on engine stands and wrestled with seized torex bolts. Respect to those that can do it under the car, understand that intermediate shaft makes it hard.

Good luck, hope you can stay on the road this time!

 

None of the bolts have been seized thank god but I just can't get to half of them! I have my buddy ordering me a 40 extended torx bit so hopefully thatll get here soon!

 

I had to do this when I ripped a hole in the pan after swapping gearboxes, and forgetting to put in the spacer/flywheel shield. Don't forget to put that in when you crank down on that lower transmission bolt! What a nightmare.

I'm at a loss where my pictures are from that adventure, but I think I had the intermediate shaft out when I did it. Not much of a help, sorry.

You do have to jack up the engine to clear the brackets for the engine mounts.

Edit: Here's what I had to do, with the gearbox out: http://www.saablink.net/forum/769822-post5.htm

 

I had the engine unbolted from the engine mounts last night but the intermetiate shaft is in the way, I have a friend ordering a long torx socket but its like 11 dollars and is going to take atleast a few days to get here... Is removing the intermediate shafte realistically doable?

 

You'd need to unbolt the gearbox and slide it over far enough ( or drop it out below the car) 4" or so, to allow the shaft to make it off the final drive splines.

 

Or remove the pass axle, the alternator, the P/S Pump and the alternator bracket.

I'm not sure which method above would be quicker honestly. They both suck!

Or you could just cut the tin shield off the intermediate shaft :twisted:

That's my vote.

 

huh well looks like a friend is picking up a set of 1/4" torx bits for me so hopefully if it doesnt storm I can try that tonight!

 

So I have one that I stripped (my fault) up front and ONE other bolt left!

Its the one on the left in this picture, its right above the pass axle where the outer half shaft meets the midshaft, after bending the shit out of the dust shield to fix the other ones I gfigured out how to move the midshaft some but its still not enough to get to this bolt, my only thought is needle nose vicegrips but even if I get it out I don't know how ill tighten the new one in.. so heres the bolt!

Any advice?

 

the intermediate shaft and its bracket seen in that pic need to be removed. You may get enough room by unbolting that bracket, unbolting the ball joint bolts and pulling the axle out. Let me know what works, theres a distinct possibility Ill be doing this to my car very soon

 

I have the bracket unbolted, I ended up cutting the head off haha I w ill deff update with info for re-installation too, prob gonna be just as difficult, working on the stripped bolt now.

 

Long sharp chisel and a hammer (airhammer would be best) , try to dig into the bolt head in a way to get force turning the bolt, once it's started just a bit, it will turn out easily.


oops just read up, too late

Good luck! This is not a fun job?!?

 

got all but one bolt out, the front one by the oil filter, stripped it and my drill died, working on the cse right now trying to get the tensioner off so I can get the head off replace the headgasket and maybe drive something by the end of the day haha