OK, so I am just finishing up the first clutch job on my Evo done entirely on my own. And after all the cussing, knuckle busting, straining it is done. During the process I also pulled out the Tcase and had fresh seals put in it.

But my question is, after studying the whole situation and the wrestling match of trying to get things lined up in the engine bay, I wonder....

Would it be almost as easy (or maybe even easier) to just pull the engine/tranny as a unit using a cherry picker?

 

No, honestly the easiest way is hag about 3 people there and drop the k-member. It frees up A LOT of space and is a lot easier. Just takes a few people to line it back up.

 

I get grief for it but I honestly prefer dropping the subframe. God does it ever make it a more comfortable ordeal. Not the fastest way but I like being able to really check everything out too.

 

I did drop the sub-frame about 2". No way to get the transfer case out without doing it (at least on my IX).

Do you guys completely drop it off the car? That would make things much easier, but what is involved?

 

I almost back the subframe bolts completely out and manage to get the tcase in there... just takes time and you need more than one person...