W126 starter motor replacement
 

Help please. I am replacing the starter motor on my 420SEL and have everything disconnected EXCEPT one of the Allen head bolts at the back - seems extremely difficult to get to and tucked in behind the bell housing and tight up against the exhaust pipe. Doesn't appear to have been documented in a DIY. I've done a search but no one seems to have written about a starter motor replacement. ALLDATADIY doesn't document a step by step replacement. Anyone know the trick to getting that bolt out?

The way I have done it on that position is to remove the transmission mount and drop the back end of the tranny down as far as you can. Then I have like a 3' or 4' long 3/8" extension that I have always been successful in removing the top bolt. You may need to adapt it to a 1/2" breaker bar. Make sure you clean the allen head out real good and firmly seat the socket down in it.

I purchased this 85 300D wagon engine one time that the mechanic tried to use a torch to cut off the upper bolt and caught the inside of the car on fire:eek: and totaled the car out.