ZF Flange

No; they're locked into the block on all engines. The studs are to precisely locate the bellhousing in order to keep the ZF input shaft centered. Do NOT remove them or you'll soon destroy the front trans seal & pilot bushing, and after that, the transaxle. If they offend you, you could make up fake nuts that pressed/lock-tited into the short space available.

The four studs that attach the transaxle to the bellhousing are studs and removing the nuts one at a time will not cause any problems. The worst that could happen is the stud will come unthreaded from the bellhousing. Just remove the lock nut and rethread the stud back in. There are two additional bolts inside the bell that thread into the trans as well.These are not accessible without removing the transaxle but you can't see them anyway so they are not a detailing issue.

I think I wasn't clear ..... not the pilot pins in the engine block mating to the bellhousing.
It's the studs that mount bellhousing to the ZF trans have lock nuts retaining the large flange to the bellhousing. I would only remove one nut and replace before removing the next nut. I am concerned that the stud may be removed.
Any different response to this inquiry?

YES! YOU ARE CORRECT THE ZF IS "BOLTED" TO THE BELL HOUSING USING STUDS (5 IN LATER BOXES). SURE YOU CAN REMOVE ONE AT A TIME WITHOUT HARM. I HAVE TAKIN OUT EACH BELLHOUSING TO ENGINE BOLT, ONE AT A TIME, IT WAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL. IF YOU DO THESE BOLTS! (AND THIS IS A WARNING TO EVERYBODY!!!!) YOU WILL FIND THAT THE STOCK BOLTS (BELLHOUSING TO ENGINE) HAVE NO SHOULDER, WHICH MEANS THERE ARE THREADS RUNNING THE FULL LENGTH, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE HEAD, AND THEY ARE AT THIS MOMENT CUTTING/WEARING INTO THE SOFT HOLES OF YOUR BELLHOUSING! SO I REPLACED MINE WITH ALL NEW GRADE 8 AIRCRAFT BOLTS WITH THE PROPER LENGTH SHOULDER.(I MADE SURE TO USE A TOURQE WRENCH ONCE ALL THE BOLTS WERE BACK IN).BACK TO THE ZF TO BELLHOUSING STUDS! IF A STUD DOES COME OUT. USE A VICE OR VICE-GRIPS TO TO HOLD THE STUD WHILE YOU REMOVE THE "NY-LOCK" NUT(GRIP ONLY ON THE SHOULDER NEVER TOUCH THE THREADS!), THEN USE TWO REGULAR NUTS AND JAM THEM TOGETHER!(YOU'LL HAVE TO HUNT FOR THESE NUTS, REMEMBER THEIR METRIC!) TO REINSTALL THE STUD, SCREW THEM IN AS DEEP AS YOU CAN GO AND STILL HAVE ENOUGH THREAD FOR THE FINAL NUT AND DON'T FORGET THE WASHER! (EVERY NUT AND BOLT MUST HAVE A WASHER! PREFERABLY GRADE 8, THAT'S THE AIRCRAFT WAY!!) THEN YOU USE TWO WRENCHES TOGETHER TO UN-JAM THE NUTS AND YOUR IN BUSINESS!! I WOULD USE LOCK-TIGHT ONLY ON THE THREADS THAT WILL BE SEATING IN THE BELLHOUSING ITSELF! GOOD-LUCK WITH YOUR "DRESSING UP"! MARLIN.

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 07-18-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 07-18-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 07-18-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 07-18-2002).]

Thanks to everyone ... and the details MARLIN.

[This message has been edited by Jon3613 (edited 07-20-2002).]