How To Fix Leak At Bell Housing

Pull tranny and transfer case as a unit, much quicker then engine.

Jeep up on stands high as you can safely. (high enough that shift levers will clear frame when you slide it out from underneath.) You can also unbolt shift cover and bolt a piece of cardboard over opening to keep crap out of trans.
disconnect + cable on batt.
Unbolt drive shafts at axles, (mark how they go with the yolks with a center punch)
pull floor cover.
disconnect speedometer cable pass side of transfer case.
undo clamp for parking brake cable and disconnect cable at transfer case.
Pull cotter pins on clutch rod and remove. undo to bolts that hold clutch torque tube to drive side frame.
Put floor jack under trans skid plate with handle facing rear of jeep. ( I usually strap trans to jack)
undo all bell housing to engine bolts, including stabilization cable on driver side if present.
Undo 4 frame bolts on cross member. lower jack down a few inches.
Note: for Flatfenders, where floor access cover is small you need pull the cross pin that holds the twin sticks in transfer case, there is a set bolt that gets removed the shaft is slid out, it's a pain sometimes.
Check for anything else connected.
(This is where it's nice to have help) Grab back of transfer case and wiggle back and fourth working the two apart (keep them parallel, I usually put a small bottle jack under engine oil pan so its supported, but remember to keep lowering this down as well a bit as you lower floor jack.
when the trans can be side back far enough to disengage, lower it down to the ground on the jack.
Have a beer.
Then realize you just started a complete frame off restoration..because while the trans out you might as well........

 

Thanks for the write up 'windy' appreciate it! I think owning an old jeep is some sort of disease... it takes you over. Maybe like playing golf. It is maddening to play sometimes but that one time you play well it becomes worth it! I see this not as an investment but something 'fun' to work on. I get lots of compliments on the jeep and like the fact that its a running project. One thing you missed - might want just one beer to start too! Thanks again guys, will keep you posted as I embark on my adventure! Cheers.

 

you'll get it. it's not to hard and these trans etc. are relatively light. If your going to pull trans I'd do a clutch, replace throughout bearing, resurface flywheel, as well as rear main seal. I'd look at your trans and make sure it's in good shape. Does it jump out of second going down hills? Get a new gasket set for trans and transfer case at least and really seal it all up. check your clutch torque rod, the ends usually get warn form lack of grease, they are cheap to replace. also the 5/16" linkage rod, usually end are almost worn through, get a new one or weld it up and drill new holes for cotter pins. check your parking brake pads, I bet they are soaked with grease and oil. All these things are relatively cheap and will only take a day or so to do. Then your good to go for a while.

 

Another way to pull your Trans and Transfer is take off the floor plates, take off the top cover and shifter, put a 5/16 eye bolt in the right rear trans cover hole and hook on with a cherry picker and ease it out and down to a rug on the floor, you can now drag it out from under the jeep, pick it up and set it on the bench. I made a temporary cover out of aluminum to keep dirt out of my trans while I pulled it. It helps if you lay the windshield down on the hood too. You might want to have a floor jack handy to jack up on the transfer case line up the trans with the bell housing holes after you get the trans back in. It worked for me, I had to pull mine out twice, I had a leak from the cluster gear shaft between the trans and bell housing. Just a suggestion. Gook Luck.

 

awesome info! I was almost afraid to ask what ELSE to look for once I open up my can of worms BUT don't want to miss a 5 dollar replacement while this thing is open! cheers