I have removed the intake manifold and throttle body, and jacked the engine up. I removed the starter, and all the oil pan bolts. I disconnected the inlet tube and dropped it in the pan. I still don't have enough clearance to pull the oil pan. The engine is jacked up to just above the insulator posts. Did I not jack the engine high enough? Is the process different on an xl?

 

You may need to rotate the crankshaft to get the throws out of the way, if it is high enough you might be able to get it down.

 

I'll give it a shot, but I can't see it clearing the trans without jacking it up higher. I was told I wouldn't have to clear the mount insulator posts, but I think that was bad info.

 

you can jack that engine up as far as you can or until the trans. hogshead hits the firewall and still won't have enough room to clear the cross member that always in the way. I have found it to be easier to take it out of the engine bay to remove the oil pan. removing the engine isn't as hard as it sounds. you won't be able to clear the oil pick up screen unless you remove the engine first

 

Looks like you are right grindman. Jacked it all the was up and still no go. Any good tutorials for pulling the engine? Never done it before.

 

it is a long reply so let me ask you if you have a engine crane or a cherry picker?

 

Don't have either.

 

it's same thing just different names. to save me a lot of typing you should get online through your local library and research the database under auto repair put in the year make and model of the truck with the engine size it will tell you the whole process and the correct way to do it just remember this, you don't have to take out some things to make the job so long there are a couple of them that will come off of the engine and stay in the engine bay

 

Would it be easier to lower the engine back down and pull the tranny? If I did that, then jacked the engine back up could I clean the screen from underneath?

 

I don't want to horn in on Grindman's good advice. What will support the back of the engine if the rear support is on the trans and it's gone?