Nah, it's not rocket science. But I've talked to a few people (GM Service Techs) I talk to here and there make it out to be. I just find that it "can" be tedious the first time around. As far as the tear-down, you don't need any "special" tools to do so... unless you want to make a note of your input shaft's end play. I've always been told "the tighter, the better", but not tighter than the specified 0.015" spec from ATSG. Picks & long-nosed pliers would be nice too.

Not that a shiny new coat of paint means it'll work flawlessly, but I was disgusted at the job that was done when it was sold to me. Why would you paint over dirt & grime. blah! At least it held up for 3000 miles in stock form under my engine's punishment. Anyway... I would bolt it back in, but I've gotta buy an HD2 kit & Sonnax servo. Guess I'll buy that this week sometime. Sorry for the not-so-perfect pics. I used my cell phone... I forgot I had charged the batteries on the digicam.