I will agree with O Brien, If you are out away from no where pull,[but you won't have the right tools anyway] the back side off. {but do it right the first time}. If you fail, all is not lost. You can still remove the tranny without pulling the motor. I won't tell you how because its a dumb and stupid way to do it. Been there/done that. It ain't that big ah deal to pull the whole thing,[ the time frame is about the same.] Then you will get it right the first time. And when you are finished and everything is nice and clean and done right, there is no worry about everything being right Cheers Ron