Trans removal really this easy?

Brian,
The aft end really doesn't need to be raised that much to get the trans or bell housing off so you can twist the mount eyes in the rubber. However, how much twist can they take before you get damage to the rubber? I just wouldn't take the chance and recommend loosening the clamp blocks making sure the eye bolts are allowed to turn. The chances are high that you'll need to loosen them anyway for when you do an alingment especially if the alignment hasn't been done within a couple years. Rubber will take on a compression set new and then through the years will degrade slightly.

hey pete,i did not loosen my front mounts either,there seemed to be plenty of flex in the rubber.i put 1 bottle jack under rt side manifold towards the rear and everything went smooth.is the flex in the front mounts a sign of wear?or i did i break something

So I had to pull the transmission out of my 86 ski nautique. After talking to members on here and to Eric I pulled it today. The thing is I didn't have to loosen the front mounts, I undid the trans mounts, bell housing bolts, shaft and such and put the bottle jacks under the manifold and to my surprise up she went. I'm hoping that just swapping the mounts over to the other trans and dropping it right back in will get me close to being in alignment. Before I took anything apart I turned my propshaft as a quick test to check the alignment and it spun freely, of course I'll be checking with a feeler gauge on the way back in. Has anybody else been able to pull one w/out loosening the front mounts?