Try cleaning the torque tube real good just behind the ball collar. I also used fine emery cloth & WD40 to really clean it up. I also unbolted and removed the cross support from the frame rails and this allowed me to lower the torque tube out of the way after I removed the ball collar, and it gives you more working room, so I could pull the trans out easier. Unbolt the 4 bolts holding the collar to the rear of the trans and start wiggling it back, or tap it with a deadblow hammer while rotating it with a pipewrench, worked for me. After you get some separation you can use a large screw driver and gently slide the bell back. Then bend the tabs that hold the 4 u-joint bolts and remove the bolts. Then you should be able to slide the u-joint off, apart, and out. If you are removing the trans, go buy some bolts that will thread into the top trans to bellhousing holes, only get longer ones, I used 3" and cut the heads off. They carry the weight of the trans as you slide it out past the throwout bearing. Remove your top bolts, install the new longer ones and "then" remove the 2 bottom bolts inside by the flywheel last.
