Front Diff is leaking... but cover bolts at (1 o'clock and 3 oclock positions) are blocked by cross member... Gonna try an open end wrench I just bought tonight,
but has anybody removed this cover? any tricks?

looks like its gonna be a pain to re- PERMATEX IT,, AND GET IT BACK ON...

 

I think the "trick" is to drop the front differential assembly. That's what I did on my Aerostar. Or maybe you can loosen it up and get yourself that badly-needed extra inch.

If you found a trick, let us know.

 

I got the cover loose ... but left 1 oclock and 3 Oclock bolts in and loose... and squeezed the permatex in the gap all around the cover...( this is a Gasket-less cover, just permatex is used),... not easy to reach the top, leave the the permatex tip as long as possible... I had let the cover loose and draining for 2 days as work schedule... did spray brake cleaner at surfaces to make sure as clean as I could.... goo'd it and tightened down in a star pattern.... left cure for like 36 hours.. then refilled with 80W90...

have not driven it much since, so not sure how well it is fixed yet....