Re: 69 6hp l.u. drop
The 6hp motors don't have the access plate to get at the shift rod link. Pull the LU down until you have a gap of about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. You may also wish to put the motor in reverse to allow more space between the midsection and the LU. Once you do this, look into the gap and you will see the brass link. There are two bolts/screws in the link and I usually remove the top one when dropping my LU. You can use a medium/large straight slot screwdriver or a socket. Use a 1/4 inch drive set if you have one because the extension will be smaller in diameter. I don't remember the bolthead size but it is probably either 3/8ths or 7/16ths. Be sure to remove the bolt completely because the shift rod is indented and won't come free until the bolt is all the way out - its not just a friction hold from a tightened link.
When you buy the parts to redo the impeller, don't forget to get a new grommet for the water pump housing. Reassembly is, of course the reverse of dropping the LU but it has a couple of "pitfalls." First, have a claw type retrieving tool handy - they are great for inserting the bolt back into the link with one hand, while you hold the LU in place with the other. Once you get the bolt inserted into the link, you can probably get a bit of a turn going to engage the threads and prevent the bolt from falling out, as you reach for a screwdriver or socket/rachet. Another item that takes a bit of finesse is to keep the water tube in the water pump housing grommet while you get the link fastened. You will have a natural tendancy to let the LU fall a bit to get more room to work inside the LU, but doing that will let the water tube slip out. Finally, if the LU does not seem to want to go back into place properly after the link is tightened, you may either not have the driveshaft splines lined up, or the upper shift rod may not be fully pushed into the link. If this problem arises, first try rotating the LU a little to see if the driveshaft slips into the bottom of the crankshaft. If this doesn't help, you may have to undo the link again and get the shift rod in place properly.
