Removing 350 and SM465 from 1970 C10

[mattfranklin]

I'm trying to take engine and tranny out out together. I thought I had read in Hot Rod that it could be done "easily" as long at the tilt was high enough. But the tranny seems to be just a little too tall and deep to slide between the cab floor and the tranny cross-member, regardless of engine angle.

I then tried to pull the top housing of the tranny to give more clearance. I'm pretty sure I removed the shifter with the tranny in neutral, but the cover is not coming off. I hesitate to pull too hard. My only manual tranny experience was with a Jeep with a T90C (30+ years ago) and that was pretty easy to separate the cover.

I assume my 4 speed is an SM465 because it has a casting number of 3901131.

Any suggestions how to proceed? Is this possible or should I just cut my losses and pull the tranny out through the back?