Well, I did get that off/loose from the firewall, it just needed to be twisted/rotated back and forth, and apparently, was doing that when you wrote.
I'm kinda po'd now cause my steering attachment of the coupler/ not the gear was near the end of the round tube....I couldn't get it to slide up.

Well, in fact I was following the thread and it said to loosen gear box side and it will slide two inches.

I'm not sure it can unless you loosen the steering side too, duh.
Well, since it didn't slide, I loosened the steering side. And proceeded to the gear box bolts.

Not even thinking to try to slide again.

Well, the gear box slides good but the coupling came off the steering wheel Hollow rod.

Now, You can't put it back around that rod so the steering column now must come off.

Not enough play now to get full slide and off).

Your's on the other hand (coupler) was slid up further to begin with because you couldn't get to the 2 nd Allen screw on the coupler.

I could get to both of mine from the engine compartment.

So anyone else that tackles this make sure you double check about the slide. Especially if you can unscrew your coupler (both nuts) from the engine compartment.

Just a "little" more work

__________________
JHaburay

1972 280se 4.5 "princess"
1986 2.3-16v first 100 (099) USA