I got the transmission out!
My brother, a back-to-college student, is back for spring break. He called me and said he was bored, so I immediately shirked work and invited him over to help me take the transmission out of the Geo.
He hadn't actually pulled a transmission before, but has worked at a body shop, an alternator repair shop, and is an all-around mechanical guy.
With his help, it was a pretty straight-forward event. It was great to have two people there. And this time I didn't have to hoist with a clothes line and pulleys, just picked it right up once everything was disconnected.
I still couldn't get the drain plug out, but did let the ooze leak out once the passenger side drive axel was pulled.
I put the transmission right into the back of the pickup truck, so it is good to go next time I can drive off to meet a machinist.
Hardly anything left in the engine compartment except this weirdo!
