Sooo, why are they still stuck together when I try to lift out the engine in my 4runner? I'm sure I got to all the bolts holding them together, and they even separate a little bit on the driver's side. My only guess is that I need to take out the starter first, although it doesn't look like I need to on the sketches in the FSM. Is that it, or is there anything else I need to do down there?

 

yup - starter out

also theres a bolt going in the REVERSE direction down on the drivers side on the 22RE/W56 setup...

It has to be pulled back first as the snout hangs up on the clutch disk
(or in your case - pulled forward)

 

Thanks for the confirmation. I have the 3vze/r150, so I don't think I have that reverse bolt.

 

The starter sandwiches the splash plate to the bell housing.
The splash plate is bolted to the engine block
The bell housing is bolted to the trans

Its not coming apart w/o the starter out....

 

I'd drop the transmission alltogether... its not that difficult to get them back up in there... besides how are you supporting the transmission when the engine is out anyways? jackstand?