2000 S-10/2.2L/AC Alternator Removal Issues

I am trying to replace the alternator on my 2000 S-10 2.2 liter truck with air condtioning. I have the service manuals and have read several suggestions to make this task doable. The alternator on my truck is located in an extremely restricted access area with the two traditional bolts and a rear backet on the back side of the alternator that requires access thru the wheel well to remove the rear bracket (one bolts and two nuts). The service manual states the steps BUT I was hoping to obtain some clarifications from anyone who has tackle this task which is usually a very minor one on most other vehicles. Here are my questions that I am hoping that someone has an input on:
1. The fan shrould being removed would surely make the job easier but I do not know how to remove those "Large Black Plugs" that hold some of the plastic "air tubes" components together. Is there a correct way to deal with these plugs that are holding the fan shrould to the other plastic chambers surrounding the fan?
2. I have been looking for the 7 bolts that hold the fan should to the frame and can see the top three bolts and the drivers two bolts, but I can not locate the remaining two bolts on the passenger side of the radiator. How much stuff do I need to remove to get to the remaining two bolts?
3. Once the alternator is removed from the two attaching bolts and the rear bracket (one bolt and two nuts), how do I remove the freed alternator from the engine compartment. It can not go up or down without removing other components not listed in the instructions. Does anyone have any suggestions on the proper method to squeeze the altenator out of the engine compartment without removing additional items (belt tensioner)?
Any help would be appreciated?
Steve

Well im not sure how much help i can offer but ill do my best. I did this with my truck which is a 98 2.2L so it should be pretty similar
1. the large black plugs, im not sure if there is a proper way to remove them but all i did was pull up pretty hard and they popped off.
2. im not sure what bolts u are talking about here on my truck there are 3 bolts that hold it to the body and there are 2 sections of the shroud that there are 4 bolts that hold them together 2 on the driver side and 2 on the passenger side, you will have to remove the intake to get the the passenger side ones.
3. once u have the shroud off u should be able to go up with it, if i remember correctly that is what i did, it just took some wiggling and a little bit of force, i believe u can go down without removing anything else with more wiggling.

i hope this helps u like i said i did it on a 98 2.2L with AC but im not to sure how similar they are but they should be pretty similar anyway hope this helps

Sorry for the late reply. This is the second time I have posted the reply to this.
Thanks for the great help / suggestions for my 2000 alternator removal. Per your comments, the 98 sounds very similiar to the 2000.
The large black plugs that hold the air ducts together were removed based your suggestions to pull up hard. Once the air ducts were removed the fan upper cover bolts were exposed. Upon removal of the upper fan cover, I was able to remove the alternator through the opening of the removed fan cover. Thanks for the assistance. New alternator is on, but radiator started leaking the before I had a chance to install the alternator. Waiting to complete prior to testing the alternator replacement. Thanks, Steve