and that's what i'd been following up to this point. got real flustered when i looked for the flange bolts between the engine and trans. they're, uh, right above the subframe crossmember. reeeeeal easy to access.

anyway thx for the input. next question.. manual discusses removing the starter, because it looks to me like it's bolted to the trans housing. i guess if i'm yoinking both together i don't need to pull the starter? is this right?

i stopped on the second starter bolt (the upper one that you have to get to from the wheel well) because it is TORQUED DOWN LIKE A VIRGIN TO A SACRIFICIAL ALTAR.

i don't know if that's torqued but it's reeeeally torqued. broke a wobble socket trying to loosen it.