Looking for some tips.

I am removing the engine from a 1990 Jeep Cherokee 4.0

I have one more bolt to remove before the engine will be free. It is the top passenger side torx bolt. I removed the drivers side top bolt with an E12 torx socket, but the E12 barely fits on the passenger side bolt. I put the E14 torx socket and it seems to fit. Are the two bolts different sizes? Now to get the socket on there, I had to lower the engine, otherwise my wobbly would hit the tub. After lowering the engine I can come up from underneath and get the socket on there, but I do not think my extension is long enough because once I get the socket on there the angle of the wobbly is almost 90 degrees. How long of an extension do I need? I measured it and is seems to be 3 to 4 feet? I am thinking with this long of an extension I could come in from way back and get a better angle on it.

Any tips or tricks on getting this bolt off would be great.

Robby

Lower the trans, get very long extension. This is how I did it.
The two bolts SHOULD be the same size, I have no idea why they would be different

two bolts are the same size, you might have better luck getting at it from the top. i remember them being a pain and i attempted from every angle. it just takes patience and if you lower the trans/t case it helps a lot.

X3, lower the tranny and get up there with about 10" of extenion and maybe a u-joint... carefull not to strip it..

Robby,
I literally just put mine back in yesterday. My XJ has a 3" skyjacker lift, but no body lift so I think this would work same as a standard suspension. Get yourself about 4' of extension...I used a 24 incher, a 12 incher and I think a 10 inch wobbly (the wobbly is what I had, not strictly necessary) with a universal joint at the end. If you have a torx that will fit, great, otherwise you can make a 3/8 socket work. Slide under the jeep all the way under the back seat and run your 4 footer up over the third member and up the cavity. Put a spotlight right over the rear of the motor and with one eye you should be able to look straight at the bolt from underneath. Guide the socket to the bolt and you got it, there shouldn't be any need to drop the tranny...in fact when I did it the tranny was still blocked up a but high. Alternatively you can take the head off the motor and get it with a bent 3/8 box end. Now that you've got the bolt out, run, don't walk, to your local fastener store with bolt in hand. Find a standard head bolt with the same thread and length (or mfg it like I did) and never, ever, ever use the torx again. When it comes time to mate it all back up again, use the same approach with one difference. Just use a wobbly on the end of your four-footer to place the bolt into the hole from underneath. You won't have enough tilt on the wobble to actually get any threads in. Now, carefully back out, leaving the bolt in place, and put your universal on the end. With the bolt in place, it's fairly simple and quick to get the universal and socket over the bolt and crank it in. Job done, moving on.

Regards,
Tony

My XJ has a 3" skyjacker lift, but no body lift so I think this would work same as a standard suspension.

No body lift, huh? So I guess you got one of those rare "unibody XJs"? :flipoff2:

Lower the tranny, pull off the shifter cover, go in with a long extension, have someone position the socket and you're good to go.

Thanks for the replys guys. 42 inches of extensions, wobbly and the torx bit and that did the trick. Once I did get the bolt out it was partially stripped, so it looks like someone prior to me tried to get that bolt out at one time. So, yes off to get new bolts.

"No body lift, huh? So I guess you got one of those rare "unibody XJs"?"

Ha ha, I meant nothing beyond the standard 3" lift. :p

Tony