I have a 1973 Johnson 9.9 seahorse outboard and I am trying replace the impeller. I have removed the 4 bolts holding the lower unit on and exposed the screw holing the connecting rod together. my issue is there is not enough room to get a screw driver in to loosen up the screw. I have the motor in neutral. any ideas?
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try forward and reverse one of them should push that rod down giving alittle more room to reach the bolt

Add rotating the prop to engage the shift dog will allow a little more room.

Thank you guys. I will try that in the morning. Another dumb question but I noticed at the gas tank a small amount of fuel is leaking at the connection. I'm assuming that should not happen and will need to replace the connection. Right?

Yes replace it and I would replace all the fuel lines.

I replaced the exterior fuel line. Would you replace the interior fuel lines. the ones leading to/leaving the fuel pump?

Here is a pic of the original gas tank and where it leaks at the connection. would you just replace the connection on the original gas tank or go buy an after market one at academy?

After market is OK from the picture it might be the gasket with the ethanol fuel we have today it will eat rubber and gasket's so it's a good idea to replace all fuel lines try to find ethanol free gas and you'll be OK

I tried moving the lever from neutral to foreword and reverse and i cant seem to get anymore space. I also tried to rotate the prop and that didnt seem to help either. anymore ideas. somebody at the boat store told me to look for a screw under the card that would disconnect the shift rod from up above. anybody have any success with this?

Yes on a Johnson under the crabs you will see a bolt, take a chill pill or a beer or two, it's a pain but you can get it out, it helps if you have a wobble extension on your ratchet to get the right angle to get to it.
When you get it off the lower unit will be off, push it back up and that will help you get to it .

Let me know how it goes...

while holding pressure on the shift link (either forward or reverse) did you --simultaneously-- pull on the lower unit while rotating the prop?, sounds like you preformed each action by itself, lol, just pull harder on the lower unit while turning the prop, it should open up, your in the right spot, no bolt under the carb

Good news is I was able to get the shifting linkage disconnected. Bad news is now the lower unit will still not release and come out. I removed all 4 bolts and the steering linkage is connected. What am I missing? Help!! This "easy" project is driving me crazy!!!

There is a shift rod on all outboards and you have to unbolt it to get the lower unit to drop.