Noob has probs with transmission on 1991 Pathfinder 4x4 (removal)

[DJ420a]

Hey guys, I bought a 1991 Pathfinder 4x4 for 400 bux. This thing is in awesome condition, paint is great, interior is great, even brand new tires. The only prob is the owner said it needed a torque converter and a windshield and he didnt have the time or money to do it.

Anyways I get it home and the first thing I do is start it up, it runs great, no smoke at all. I try to put it in any of the gears and the only thing that changes are the RPMs for that slight second. Also while the vehicle is running, you can hear a sorta high pitched winding noise. Then when you shut the vehicle off, after the motor has stopped, you can hear something that sounds like a gear winding down. All this sounds like the torque converter to me.

Now Im in the middile of trying to drop the transmission and Im stumped at the plate that is supposed to moved to be able to access the torque converter to driveplate bolts. Is it just me or is the oil pan in the way?

Is it at the very bottom of the bell housing or is it kind of at the 3-5 o'clock area on the bell housing.

Thanks alot guysDJ

[elwesso]

are you moving the engine by hand [crank pulley] so you can get access to the bolts?

[DJ420a]

Thats how I will be doing it to access each bolt, the problem Im having is getting access to them bolts. At the bottom of the bell housing is the oil pan in the way. I took out all the bolts in the bell housing last night and did succeed in pulling out one plate, then I noticed that I still cannot get to the converter/drive plate bolts because there is another plate there. This plate does move but I cant get it out. It almost seems like maybe a dowel is holding it in.

GRRRRRRRRDJ