Trying to Replace Transmission!

[Petros]

the extra low gear (all the way to the left and up, like a lower first gear) only works when you are in 4wd, it is blocked off when in 2wd.

whirling sound cold be drive shaft bearing, or shield. the drive shaft always turns when the car is moving, even when not in 4wd. Also, as noted, look to see if the splash shield on the front brakes got bent and is touching the brake disk.

Did you find a the place for all the bolts? looks like some of those go on the side plats that go from the front diff housing to the lower edge of the sides of the block, one side uses three 14 mm bolts, the other uses four.

There is a ground strap attached near the rear mount, it gets grounded to the body though a large bolt next to the cross member mounting bolts (Iooks like an extra set of holes for a longer transmission). Make sure the trans is grounded, if not the bolts will all suffer electrolysis (corrosion) where they join the housing to the engine.

There should be four large 17 mm bolts holding the engine to the trans, two lower ones (below the starter) out on side "wings" of the block, and two upper ones just below the head. the upper ones you can reach from under the hood, you can put your hand behind the top edge of the block and feel the holes in the upper edge of the bell housing. There are also two 14 mm bolts for the starter and below that two more to mount that reed chamber for the catalytic converter breather.