Front transmission upper bolts removal secret?

[pickly]

Anyone know what the secret is to remove the upper (4) of (8) bolts holding the front transmission cross member in place? There's no room to get at them with a rachet with U joints, breaker bar, etc. I've tried all kinds of combinations of extensions and ratchets, but just can't get anything to go up in there at angle and still have room to turn the wrench. I'm working on my Ford F-100 72 with C6 transmission. Trying to get the transmission out to fix a front seal leak.

Grrrrrrrr.

[Bvh56]

Swivel extension maybe

[sargentrs]

I bought a set of flex head ratcheting box end wrenches for those hard to reach places.

[Donnie]

You should be able to get it with a Snap-on impact flex socket, the kind with the swivel ball & a 12 inch extension & an air wrench if you have one. Some of these were pinch nut's & had resistance all the way off. Replace with grade 5 or 8 regular nut's & lock washer's.
When you get it out , don't forget to check the small Welch plug down in the corner as they sometimes leak..
Don't use a grey silicone seal..National BLACK is better.......There are some of those grey seal's still floating around..
If it's grey, thro it away. If you are not using a seal installer, just a hammer.....put some Vaseline on the garter spring to keep it from jumping out due to the hammer shock............good luck.........Donnie

[pickly]

Thanks much! I finally got it out after much creative geometry. The previous owner had welded some steel plates on the bottom of the floorboard/firewall and there was no room to get the bolt head up enough to clear the frame. I did some prying between the cab and frame and managed to wiggle out the bolts.

Now onto to the clean up process and inspection for other leaks!