Automatic transmission removal question

[missingmytoyota]

Howdy rangers.

I'm doing the dreaded overdrive sprag replacement on my 2002 automagic 4.0 4x4. (It broke a week after purchase, no warranty. Fork me.)

I've removed the exhaust (including the stupid y pipe and O2 sensors), drive shafts (front and back), transfer case, and I'm a few steps away from freeing the transmission (transmission lines, dipstick tube). Unfortunately I can't find a video that exactly matches my model, so everyone's transmission looks a little different to mine. I'm wondering if there is anything catastrophic I am forgetting before I crank on this bad-boy. I was worried for a while about why I didn't see an inspection plate to remove my flywheel nuts, until I remembered it wasn't manual, but I haven't a flex plate in my life so I just want to check.

Any advice is appreciated. I'm off to lunch.

 

[sgtsandman]

To access the nuts, you have to go through the hole where the starter mounts, If I remember correctly.

Other than that, it's just disconnecting the connectors for the sensors on the transmission and dropping the cross member that holds up the back of the transmission. Once the transmission has some angle to it, you will be able to get at the bolts on the top of the transmission. Even my small hands can't get up between the firewall and the back of the engine with the transmission in the proper position.

 

[missingmytoyota]

To access the nuts, you have to go through the hole where the starter mounts, If I remember correctly.

Other than that, it's just disconnecting the connectors for the sensors on the transmission and dropping the cross member that holds up the back of the transmission. Once the transmission has some angle to it, you will be able to get at the bolts on the top of the transmission. Even my small hands can't get up between the firewall and the back of the engine with the transmission in the proper position.

Heyo. Quick update for all- I got the transmission out after all was disconnected and I took of the cross member.

I disassembled the trans at the bell housing side to get to the overdrive sprag. It was broken, but not as broken as I would have liked in order to point at it and say "that is definitely my one and only problem". Still, going to try to replace only that and see if it's good to go.

Problem is, my new sprag came with a bronze spacer/lip on one side. I noticed where my orbital gear met my old sprag, it had a loose bronze spacer much the same. I figure that means I need to install the new sprag with the bronze toward the orbital, but--finally the problem--it doesn't go in so well that way. Tomorrow I'll be tackling trying to get the sprag in with fresh eyes, then trying to get the orbital assembly to mate with the sprag-thingy-component, as those three independant gears (plus the one more) don't seem to love eachother either.