if i have a slant and 904 as originally assembled (1970 a body) sitting in a crate on the floor, can i remove the starter, undo the bell housing bolts and inspection cover and slide them apart, or do i have to get inside and undo the flex plate bolts first?

It is best practices to remove the four flex platebolts first. However, if for some reason that isn't possible, the transmiusion can be removed once the bellhousing bolts are out but the torque converter will slide out of the front pump and will remoain attached to the flex plate.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

You can usually get the flex plate bolts through the starter hole.

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