[East]

I pulled the pan to drain all of the transmission fluid since it has been constantly leaking. I want to reinstall the pan from scratch with new gasket.

I removed the th350 dipstick tube and cleaned up around flange. I had removed both cooling lines to give me more room to manipulate dipstick tube and see if mounting tab would line up to cylinder head correctly.

I get the dipstick tube into the transmission after fighting with the o-ring and every looks good.

I start moving the cooling lines to get them reattached and I am noticing that the upper cooling line is positioned behind the dipstick tube from my position laying on my back looking up.

I am studying the situation and thing that there is no room for me to get a wrench in position to tighten the line. I didn't attempt it, and removed the dipstick tube thinking i could get in reinserted after reattaching cooling line.

I have given up for the night to regroup.

I have removed the oil filter adapter, passenger valve cover, vacuum modulator, and air cleaner try to twist the dipstick into position while keeping it behind the upper cooler line.

I may revert to installing the dipstick first and fighting with the cooler line. I was thinking that i should attach the line first to avoid causing damage from installing blindly.

I have also been tossing around the idea of tilting engine and trans up or down to gain maneuvering space.

At this point I am whipped and with a headache.