The "Belly Pan" (as referred to in the Haynes Manual) is the plate between the flywheel and the oil pan. To remove it, loosen the lower 4 bolts on the very front of the transmission (manual) housing. These 4 bolts bolt into 2 brackets on the block. Loosen the 4 bolts on these 2 brackets 3/4 the way and then you can get the "belly pan" out of the way. This will give you access to the 2 back bolts on the oil pan. When removing oil pan (looking at front of vehicle) pull the pan as far forward as you can then turn it to the left about 45 degrees, now (looking from back of vehicle) give a nice solid whack from a rubber mallet. Pan should pop out nicely to the front. When reinstalling pan, put gasket sealant on top of oil baffle plate and push it up on block. Use the 2 NUTS from oil pan and hand tighten baffle plate up to block. Then put gasket sealant on BOTTOM SIDE OF BAFFLE PLATE, align oil pan in the position as it was removed and give a good whack with rubber mallet. Remove nuts from bottom side of baffle plate (that you installed earlier to keep plate in position) as you push up oil pan up. Hand tighten all oil pan bolts (and nuts-2). Snuggly tighten all bolts in diagonal and parallel order. Then go back and Torque all bolts in same order.

 

anyone have tips for an automatic trans?