81 Civic - trouble removing starter

[Nirky]

So I have a bad throwout bearing...5-spd transmission needs to come out of my 1981 Civic 1300 hatchback.

Everything easy as cake...then find that one of the two 14mm bolts which holds on the starter is going into the starter from the opposite direction...from the engine side. Can't see how I'm going to get at it, the engine is in the way!

Could the tranny be removed from the engine with the starter still attached?

Anyone with a second-gen Civic done this?

[Nirky]

I am a little disappointed in no response yet, but I understand these are some of the oldest Civics on the road and probably few of you have ever owned one, let alone worked on them.

[Figori]

I do not have a second gen Civic, so my imput will not be as of much help as others. All I can suggest is to give it a shot. CVCC Wagon would have a better idea, though.

[Nirky]

Thanks Figori, hopefully CVCC Wagon will see this and have an idea.

[zalivinv]

You know, I was just working on my Neighbour's '83 1300, his water pump shaft broke off, so I had to replace the water pump, plus do the timing belt as well. I couldn't get the crankshaft pulley bolt loose, so I thought I'd take off the starter, and hold the screwdriver to flywheel (it worked great for me on my '93 Integra), but when I saw that the bottom starter bolt came from the side of the engine block, I thought I was tripping. I've changed starters on at least 20 different cars, and have never seen anything like that.
I ended up looking for a different way to loose the crankshaft bolt. The only way I can see this done, is by having the car on a lift, so you could get to the bolt from underneath.
Good luck!