I need to remove the transmission pan to my '91 Montero
to fix the drain bolt. The threaded insert inside has
come loose and it leaks and I cannot remove the bolt ..
it just spins. Can anyone help me with some advice on
how to do this? There's a strength member across the
back bolts of the pan and I don't know how to remove it.

Help ~!

I haven't done that job in-frame, but others here have.... maybe they can help. Meanwhile, I think you have to either remove the front axles and differential - or - unbolt the engine mounts and raise the engine about an inch or so.

Good luck,
Frank

I don't see why the front axles or diff would have to move.
The transmission mount is a transverse member that the
tranny rest on and it obscures the rear bolts on the pan.
Wish I had a book on this thing. I also want to change the
filter (automatic 4-speed) .. there must be a procedure
for doing this in-frame.

Sorry - I misread your first post and thought you were trying to remove the engine oil pan. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

To remove the transmission pan you have to support the t-case and remove the #2 transmission crossmember. Not too terrible.

Frank

I just found an article in the archive, but it's not
too well written. Looks like I just jack up the T-case
and then unbolt the cushion bolts and then the crossmember
bolts. Apparently the dipstick has to be unbolted from
the pan, too. I'll have to visualize all this tomorrow
when I get under it. This leak is terrible ~! Any other
tips from you guys?

when I removed my pan I also support the trans on the bell housing. While your in there you might want to consider a new filter and maybe a kickdown cable since they stretch over time.

Already got the filter and gasket. I'm going to have to
replace the drain plug and I'm considering a simple brass
fitting with a cap since the inner threaded piece has
come loose. Hope there's room for a nut inside the pan.
I gotta stop this leakage.

The dipstick is a 2-part piece with an o-ring seal. The lower half will come out with the pan. I'm not sure you have to remove the upper part - maybe so (it's not fun to do) - maybe you can pull the pan and separate the dipstick halves without unbolting the top half - it's worth a try.

You have 2 bolts on the cushion, 2 on the rear "T" member and 8 on the crossmember.... it's heavy, so be careful.

Otherwise, that's about all there is to it. While you have the pan off, you might want to replace the screen if it's gunked up.... if not, leave it alone. If so, you might need 2 screen gaskets - only 1 comes with the screen and another like it is under the screen mounting flange (it might stay in place without damage on removal). You'll want a new pan gasket, also.

Frank

Lookslike the shift linkage must come off, too, and
it's attached to both the tranny and the crossmember.
It looks a little tricky, so I'll just have to take
notes on how I remove it. That crossmember really
does look heavy, too.

Since I can't drain the oil through the plug because
it won't screw out, I'm dreading this because the
fluid will have to leak out along the edges of the pan
before removal can be done. I'm hoping to get a plastic
hose into the filler pipe and suck some of that
fluid out first. Is this feasible or are there obstacles
there?

Boy, this is gonna be a two-man job, I think.

You could probably siphon or pump some out through the fill pipe... maybe get a 12v fuel pump and stick the inlet hose inside the tube. Maybe you could drill through the drain bolt and get most of it that way.

An alternate suggestion would be to put a large pan under the transmission pan, loosen the bolts a little at a time and let it drain out of the sides until you get to the pan gasket level - then remove the bolts on one end until the remaining oil dumps out of the end of the pan.

Yes, the linkage has to be removed - it's not as bad as it looks.... you'll be able to figure out how it goes back together.

Frank