U joint circlip / pulling engine

[Workinman]

Hey guys, I’m pulling the engine out of my 77 and I’ve got it ready to come out. The engine is basically flopping around in the frame except for the rear lower engine mount won’t clear the frame brackets and I CANNOT find the circlip on the forward end of the driveshaft. The photos in my service manual are not very clear (reproduction manual) and I can’t find the clip to remove it. Am I missing something here?
Thanks!

 

[wilcoy02]

The circlip is the hardest part of taking the engine out and back in.You just have to man handle the boot, light, and circlip pliers.
It is in there. You just have to have a go get it attitude.

 

[AApple]

I have a better pic here somewhere...I'm still lookin...

 

[Workinman]

Thanks guys! I found the bastard! They didn’t make it easy to get to, did they? I sure could have used a third hand!
Thanks again!

 

[AApple]

:clapping:
I use a large screwdriver to hold the boot back while removing/replacing the snapring.

 

[brianinpa]

Zip tie the boot so it stays out of the way and keep at it.

 

[pidjones]

I found it easier to first pull the whole rear drive off before pulling the engine. Actually, strip it all down to frame on engine, then take the frame off of the engine. Engine strapped to two 4x4s (or doubled 2x4s) screwed to a furniture dolly.

 

[joedrum]

Nothing easy here at all ..but you can get good at it ..