how hard can a tranny rebuild be anyway?

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EvanD

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I need my 4l65e rebuilt annd beefed up a little. Really how hard can it be to do. Toss in a few new parts check a few clearances follow a manual.

Has anyone on here tried it themselves. Not being cheap. It has to be possible by a backyard mechanic.
 
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Biggest problem is the special tools that are needed.
and knowing what to look for.in the old days the rubbers would dry out,governor would stick or the pump would stop pumping.today we have that plus a bazillion other reasons for a trans failure including electronic and computer issues.
 
A clean area, TP-50 socket to remove bellhousing and a long prybar with a notch at the end to remove snap rings deep in the case. There are full disassembly vids on Youtube but to me looks easily watched than done. I'd hate after two days of disassembling, cleaning and reinstalling the transmission, something weird happens.
 
There are tire shops; my local independent will do tires.
There are tuneup shops; my local independent will do tuneups.
There are oil change places; my local independent will do oil changes.
There are transmission shops; my local independent will not do transmissions.

Your call.
 
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
There are tire shops; my local independent will do tires.
There are tuneup shops; my local independent will do tuneups.
There are oil change places; my local independent will do oil changes.
There are transmission shops; my local independent will not do transmissions.

Your call.


That's a good point.

I asked this question a while back. The consensus was, a lot of specialty tools will be needed (along with a very clean work area), and the worst part is really removal and install to the vehicle.

I was thinking of getting a junkyard transmission and slowly rebuilding it as a project/learning experience so that I'd have one ready to go, assembled by me, should the original go out.

For the meantime, I have decided it would be more hassle than enjoyable hobby. Just the logistics of picking up a used transmission, unloading it, and getting it setup to work on in the basement sounds like more hassle than enjoyment.

Should the transmission on my truck start exhibiting symptoms of pending failure, I have a transmission shop I trust to take it to. They will rebuild the existing trans in my truck for $1300 if I give them some time (not "I need it back in two days").
 
I would buy a high performance rebuilt one and do the swap. Just make sure to get on with a high performance sun shell.
 
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Once upon a time, before the earth cooled, I had an Oldsmobile F-85 with the 215 V-8 and an automatic transmission. The car came with several "spares" that didn't work. I pulled the transmission from the car and laid it out alongside a "spare" I disassembled them simultaneously until I came to an obvious bad part. It was a coil spring (I have no idea what it did). I took the spring from the other transmission and installed in that one. I put it in the car and it worked! Ignorance can be bliss.
 
Man I'd do it myself, even if you screw up, you're still ahead of the game in labor costs, plus you know you did it correctly. Before anyone comes in with "warranty, blah blah blah" - a [censored] mechanic with a warranty is still a [censored] mechanic.
 
Originally Posted By: EvanD
I need my 4l65e rebuilt annd beefed up a little. Really how hard can it be to do. Toss in a few new parts check a few clearances follow a manual.

Has anyone on here tried it themselves. Not being cheap. It has to be possible by a backyard mechanic.


I would take it to a specialist. I have a buddy who has done trannys for years. He was in a bind, so i decided to let him rebuild my silverados transmission.

Long story short not 500 miles later it starts shuttering and slipping.

By all means its better then it was but I should have taken it to a specialist.
 
Originally Posted By: Fordtrucktexan
even if you screw up, you're still ahead of the game in labor costs, plus you know you did it correctly.


Why would you think you did it correctly if you screwed it up?
 
If you have never worked on an automatic trans I would take it to someone who has
It is not a simple job
 
Originally Posted By: EvanD
I need my 4l65e rebuilt annd beefed up a little. Really how hard can it be to do. Toss in a few new parts check a few clearances follow a manual.

Has anyone on here tried it themselves. Not being cheap. It has to be possible by a backyard mechanic.

Sure its possible its just a question of skill and the right tools but so is doing most jobs on anything.
Rebuilding one of the most complex pieces of the drive train and doing it right isn't easy.
 
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
There are tire shops; my local independent will do tires.
There are tuneup shops; my local independent will do tuneups.
There are oil change places; my local independent will do oil changes.
There are transmission shops; my local independent will not do transmissions.

Your call.


This x100,000,000.
 
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