Working on my 1984 Chris Craft 312 Stinger. I have 454’s with 10-18 Velvet Drives and TRS outdrives. Can the velvet drive be removed without removing the engine? I’m not sure how much the transmission needs to slide back to be able to remove it. There does not appear to be hardly any room for it to slide back. I currently have the drive off and the gimbal/tailshaft bearing out and it appears the velvet drive is leaking fluid into the bellows area.

Splines into the damper plate are about 1.25” long, then it’s gotta come back more to clear bell housing. I would say 3” minimum.

still though... easier to pull the whole engine IMO

Ok, thanks for the advice.