Cheap6
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Assuming it's a V6, the inspection cover/beaming brace is a big cast iron lump, yes, held by the 6 nuts that screw onto studs that also hold the sump on, plus by 4 bolts onto the trans. bell housing. Do watch that the nuts are unscrewing and not the studs into the block which can happen if they catch with dirt in the thread that the nuts have to unscrew past. You don't have to drop the K-frame to get it out but do have to drop the steering rack (it can stay on the column) and the exhaust 'Y' pipe. With that out of the way, access to the TC-flex plate bolts will be much easier.
A 30cm extension should be enough but you may need more if the muscle just isn't there.
When the beaming brace goes back in, make sure the mounting surfaces are clean (also the block and trans. bell housing surfaces) and push it up into place and finger tighten all the bolts before finally tightening them. If you fully tighten the bolts with the brace out of position there's enough clearance in the bolt holes for it to bend the trans. relative to the engine. If that happens to the extreme, the flex plate bends enough each time it rotates to ultimately break it. The depth the sump bolts (studs) are in the block also affects that.
A 30cm extension should be enough but you may need more if the muscle just isn't there.
When the beaming brace goes back in, make sure the mounting surfaces are clean (also the block and trans. bell housing surfaces) and push it up into place and finger tighten all the bolts before finally tightening them. If you fully tighten the bolts with the brace out of position there's enough clearance in the bolt holes for it to bend the trans. relative to the engine. If that happens to the extreme, the flex plate bends enough each time it rotates to ultimately break it. The depth the sump bolts (studs) are in the block also affects that.