Alright Ive come to the conclusion that my truck needs a new converter. I only have 13,000 miles on the truck (about 6,000 with the 275v4) and Im looking at getting the Suncoast converter, Spartan TCM, solenoids, and a deeper tranny pan but here the question do you guys think I should invest in something like a tranny rebuild kit? or do you think the truck has low enough miles that it wouldnt be worth it to spend the money. also I was looking at the billet input shaft....is it honestly worth it? It would seem me that the stock shafts we be strong enough seeing that im not trying to make 900hp or something. A little input would help.
If you have gone through all the trouble of pulling the TC, you might as well replace the input shaft. You'll have it out in your hand anyway. About the rebuild kit, that is a little pricier (and complicated). For you, I wouldn't worry about opening the tranny. input shaft is a really easy upgrade though.
I'm in the same boat, really. I have a flaky TC, but my transmission has 80K miles on it. I am going to be doing a Suncoast converter (obviously), and a Suncoast Superduty Kit (rebuild kit). I am definitely going to get a new billet input shaft, and possibly an intermediate shaft. Suncoast also has some other goodies, but it depends on how much they are. Basically, I don't want to pull the transmission more than once. I'm going to give it everything I can afford the first time.
Ok sounds good then I was lead to believe by a bone head mechanic that the tranny had to be taken apart to install the input shaft..sounds like a go on that I guess. Anyways heres my next question is the TC and shaft swap something that I can do myself in say maybe 10 hours on a Sunday? I consider myself pretty mechanically inclined so I dont think that would be a problem..my shops chuck fulls of tools to so unless there some specially pulling tools ill need that shouldnt be a problem. What do You think cause Id really like to avoid the 525 bucks I was quoted for the install.
The input shaft is just slid into the nose of the transmission. It isn't held in place by anything other than the torque converter.
10 hours with should be enough time to do it. It really helps to have a friend to help though. And you will need a transmission jack. There is just no way around that part. A plain old floor jack is handy too, to support your transfer case to keep it from rolling over on the transmission jack. There is no special tools required besides maybe a transmission line disconnect too.
The only other thing to think about is that those torque converters are *heavy*, and the one that you are putting in there is probably even heavier than the original. It really helps to have a friend willing to get transmission fluid poured all over his face/head/hair/mouth. You might be able to do it your self, but I would be afraid of damaging the pump assembly, and bearings in the torque converter, not to mention the seals and orings.
As for the rebuild, I would have a hard time dropping the trans out in order to do the converter, shaft, and solenoids without going ahead with the clutch packs in the rebuild kit at the same time.
From the point where you have dropped the trans out, pulled the pan to change the solenoid- it is another 2 hours, tops, to go through the whole trans.
Luckily these transmissions have no valving whatsoever, only 7 solenoids. The rebuild process is literally rip it apart and put it back together. Other than needing a clutch spring compressor to replace the piston inside, threaded adapter for a slide hammer to pull the pump assembly out, and a set of feeler gauges to check the clutch clearance inside two of the drums, nothing else very special is required. The Ford tool to remove/install the forward shell assembly in one piece is nice to have, but can be substituted with a section of steel bailing wire of appropriate length in a pinch.
It's one of those things that if you totally aren't comfortable with isn't necessary, but will save you some labor later down the road. A good trans shop will probably only charge a few hundred bucks to do the job; someone who has done it before can usually have it apart and back together in right at 1 hour.
Thanks Spartan for the response! So you think it would be well worth the 900 bucks for the kit? do you think those parts are beginning to wear significantly already? if you think so I may have to consider digging deeper into the wallet..I probably would be comfortable pulling the tranny apart probably would have trouble knowig what i was looking at and getting ahold of the specs for the feeler measurments. What is your opinion on the TransGo shift kit is it worth it? or not really? further input would be great! thanks again.
I have a Ford manual (circa 2004) on the Torqshift, and it sucks. I bought a better manual from the "Automatic Transmission Service Group" collection that is much better. check :
IT has really good breakdowns, and gives you a step-by-step type of guide. I'm planning on doing my own re-build.
Matt, since you have built these things before, how important are the special tools. You said you can get away without the Forward Shell Assembley tool. What about the Coast Clutch Loading fixture ( 307-s383) and the Output Shaft Nut Driver (307-458)?
I know I'll need a clutch spring compressor, but I can fab up something in the shop. I have a welder and metalworking tools. Either that, or I can spend $100 on one on Amazon.
The Coast Clutch fixture doesn't look that important, just as the Forward clutch shell tool didn't look that important. I suppose I could fabricate a Nut Driver too. I have found a Rotunda Torqshift tool kit on Ebay, but they all don't include the clutch spring compressor, nor all the parts for the Forward CLutch holding tool. They are probably more general tools that don't go into that sort of special tools kit.
I would do the super duty rebuild kit, not the extreme rebuild. You get a lot more stuff for only $300 more. That is what I plan on doing since it comes with the solenoids, transgo kit, etc.
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