alright.
finally got it off.
what a struggle.
literally another half inch on the sides of the tunnel would make it soooo much easier. Had to lower the engine via the subframe bolts(or whatever they are called, lowered whole suspension)
The pivot ball looks good.
the seal looks good (thanks johnny.)
the tranny was full, as the pavement can verify. (couldnt wrestle the trans, move the jack, and keep the catch under it, so it made a mess.)
The clutch disc/plate had slid down to the bottom of the area its supposed to be pressed in. could have been the struggle with the tranny,
but...
Had 3 finger loose bolts out of the 6 on the pressure plate. They were every other.
So I took them off by hand.
Started to take the others off, and decided i should see if they were loose, yup.
Got about 3 turns on each going tighter, so they had also backed off a bunch.
So i took them off and the pressure plate and clutch.
They look fine to me. but im gonna post pics.
So i guess the gamble is,
was it the pressure plate backing off about 3 turns worth, that wouldn't let it engage?
or is there another issue.
BTW, the tranny drain and fill will not budge.
but when it was on, i took the rear sensor out, and it started leaking slowly out that, and its about the same height as the fill plug, just opposite side. (so i can refil there i am assuming??)