My 1st transmission removal... Some help please.

[weever82]

Wanting to get my TH400 rebuilt while my truck is sitting and wondering how hard it would be to drop the tranny so I can take it to a shop? Tried reading some old threads on here but nothing really answered my questions.

I have never removed a transmission before and curious of some pointers or step by step to help me along the way. If its too spooky I might just have to wait until its back together and just drive it over.

Thanks for all your help and time guys!

Weev-
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[BMERDOC]

What kinda questions did you have?

Are you gonna be doing it on the ground and on your back? Transmission removal isn't all that hard just make sure you don't drop it on yourself! Remove the driveshaft, bellhousing bolts, torque converter bolts, tranny member bolts, a couple of linkages and connections, pry the torque converter back so that it stays in the tranny and balance the tranny on a floor jack as you wiggle it loose, lower it down and drag it out. Pretty much that simple. How detailed do you need me to get?

[weever82]

Originally Posted by BMERDOC

What kinda questions did you have?

Lol. Those help.

Basically where do you start? Pull the pan and empty it. Undo the linkage next I assume... How to disconnect from the converter? I will be on my back and just have the truck on jack stands. Figured I can put a jack under the tranny and slowly lower it down.

Need to have it explained to me like you would a child...

Thanks.

Weev-
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[BMERDOC]

Edited my post but I'll try to put it in order.

Make sure the truck is high enough to slide the trans out once its down before you start.
1. Remove the starter. If you do not know how to do this DO NOT proceed to step 2
2. No need to drain the fluid.
3. Removed the driveshaft. Have something to catch the fluid that comes out of the tailshaft when you remove the driveshaft. Do yourself a favor and have something aroung to cork the back of the transmission after the driveshaft is out. Something as simple as a ziplock bag and a roll of duct tape will work.
4. If your tranny still has the torque converter cover, remove it. Access the 4 (3?) converter bolts by rotating the motor until each one appears at the bottom. You can use a big flat blade to use as a lever to wedge in the flexplate teeth to rotate the converter too. INSERT A BIG FLAT BLADE SCREWDRIVER BETWEEN THE FLEXPLATE AND TORQUE CONVERTER TO SLIDE IT BACK TOWARDS THE TRANNY SO THAT THEY COME OUT AS A UNIT!
5. Undo the speedo cable, shift linkage and vacuum line and cooler lines.
6. Undo any bolts that hold the dipstick tube in and remove that as well. You may have some fluid leak from here too so be ready (don't think so but my th350/400 memory is fuzzy.
7. Undo all the lower accessible bellhousing bolts. You have to remove some at the top too, they may be accessible from the top but you may have to wait until step...
8. Put you floor jack underneath the trans pan. I like to use a 1'x1' piece of plywood to sandwhich between the transpan and jack. You'll have to use something to spread the load so as not to dent the pan. Lightly apply pressure to the pan so the jack will take the weight when you...
9. Drop the crossmember. Remove the frame bolts and the lower mount bolts. If you weren't able to gain access to all the bell housing bolts before now you can slightly lower the jack and the tranny will lower some so that you can gain access to the ones left.
10. Once all this is done you should be able to grab the trans by the tailshaft and wiggle it loose. Lower it and pull it down.

Tips:
DO NOT HURT YOURSELF!!!
KEEP EVERYTHING IN ORDER!!!
DO NOT DO THIS BY YOURSELF!!!

[BMERDOC]

I'll edit my last post if I think off other things..and I just did!

[BMERDOC]

Get yourself two big pieces of cardboard, as big as you can. The second one is for replacing the first one if it gets too messy. Wear bad clothes and get yourself some gloves. They are much better to swap out when you hands get cruddy, doctor type gloves are easy to find and once you get used to them you wont wanna go without them.

[midniteblues]

2 things too be carefull of is when you lower/tilt the trans back be sure your dizzy cap doesnt contact the firewall (you can flip it off and pull it too the side)
and watch your fan in the shroud if your engine tilts far enough the fan can damage your shroud

depending on what kind of exshaut you have it may get in the way if it does sometimes its easyest too just cut it at a straight section and put a sleeve on it later

oh yhea I like to place a jack stand or something under the engine to keep it up while the trans is out

[GASoline71]

After you pull the driveshaft... put a plastic bag over the tailshaft and put a rubber band around that. It'll help hold the fluid in. Also if using a floor jack on the ground... I use a 20" x 20" piece of 3/4" plywood under the tranny pan to help balance the tranny on while lowering it out of the truck.

Gary

[clinebarger]

Pull the pan & drain the fluid first, Reinstall pan with 4 bolts.... Doesnt make near the mess.

[tommys72]

ive never dropped a trans without disconnecting the battery before removing the starter....i just dropped two at work yesterday. just my 2 pennies

[Hotrob72]

Why would you remove the starter?

[GASoline71]

I don't know... I've never done that either.

Gary

[tommys72]

newer trucks you have to, i should have clarified that. these trucks i believe it doesnt need to come out.

[Leftlane]

X3 drain it first.
That fluids comming out either way.
Id rather have it in a pan than on the floor.
Also that convertor will still be full of atf.
Seems like they always fall off the shaft at some point, so I usually
pull and drain them as soon as the units out.

Big help to have another guy help balance it on the way out, it's as heavy as it looks.

Good walk through though, that should do it for him.
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[BMERDOC]

Yeah, I'm sure when I included removing the starter it was a generalization of any auto trans removal procedure. If you don't have to, don't waste the time.

[MusicMan70]

I just did my turbo 350 change out in my driveway. I used those Rhino Ramps that have a 12k capacity. The added height of the truck on the wheels gave me more clearance and I felt it was safer.

[weever82]

Awesome! Thanks a million guys. I knew some things to do but it's so nice to double check with everybody. Gonna make me feel a lot better yanking it out.

Weev-
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[midniteblues]

It really isnt that hard just take it one step at a time,keep your hardware organized,support the truck safely,and be carefull lowering the trans they are heavy