Tried posting this question in the tranny section and got several view but no responses, so I figured I would try to tap the experience of those who frequent this forum!

We have a 79 F150 4x4 with 400 and C6 married to a np205. We have the 400 out and now need to drop the tranny and Tcase. However, we would like to know what to expect when we remove the bolts between the tranny and coupler. Since we are novices at best, we want to know if there are additional disconnections needed once we get inside. Is there an inspection plate for the coupler or does someone have some pix or can explain what we should expect. After dropping the tranny we will drop the crossmember and Tcase together. Thanks for any help!

 

I think it would be best to drop the transfer case by itself. Support the tranny and remove the 5-6 bolts that hold the TC to the rear trans housing. You'll need an extra jack to put a little pressure on the TC and wiggle it backwards. It will slide back a couple of inches and will then be free of the trans.

You could remove it in one piece but it would depend on what you have for equipment to make your life easier or harder.

Don't forget to remove the speedo cable and trans linkage, also tranny lines and vacuum tube that goes up to the engine.

Piece a cake.

 

Thanks for the info, the TC can be removed first if unbolted from the coupler, however the tranny would not have any counter balance. We could drop it all at once but we don't know where the balance point is to center the jack and the 15yo daughter doesn't have the strength to hold too much of the weight. This led to the choice to remove them one at a time. I thought since the tranny had no support other than the jack stand and four bolts we would start there. The TC is close enough to the cross member that I thought it would not need external support when we dropped the tranny. Am I incorrect on this?

Do you have a reason to prefer dropping the TC before the tranny? We have disconnected all other stuff connected to both units.

What I don't know is what is inside the coupler. Is there internal bolts or retainers that we will need to disconnect for either the TC or tranny?

 

You have a transmisson jack, right?

 

The cast iron t cases in these trucks way a ton! So be very carful and make sure you have lots of help.

 

Ya we will have a tranny jack!

 

I recently dropped a C6 married to a NP205 out of a parts truck. It was not difficult with a floor jack, a piece of 2x4 to act as a removeable cross member once the factory cross member was loose.

2 of us did it no problem, that's with the truck rather high off the ground to. Just use common sense, there is a lot of weight between the two of them, there's no denying that.

 

Thanks for all the info, we will do them separately to help keep the weight down.

After removing the external bolts separating them from the coupler, are there any internal connections that we have to worry about or will they both just slip off?

 

Nope, just a spline connection. Slides right off.

 

Leave the trans CM in place and support the front of the trans. Then you can remove the bolts holding the TC to the trans and slide it back. You might have to give it a whack or two to break the TC loose.

You might want to remove the side bracket from either the frame or TC to allow you to swivel the TC to work it off the trans. Make sure your sliding it straight back.

I had a 12" plate laying around so I welded it to a piece of tubing and it drops into the hole in my floor jack. Gives me alot more room for error if something slips.

 

Thanks folks, we really appreciate the help, I hope you can imagine the thrill I get when teaching my completely oblvious 15yo daughter how to fix and/or repair her Ford truck. This was her idea and really caught me by surprise last year and now with alot of help from this forum we are down to the tranny, TC, and gutted cab before sandblast and powdercoating of the frame. It is her intent to rebuild as much as she can afford in the next two years so it is ready for her senior year of HS. Again, THANKS!!

Please tell me if this link to her FB photo album works so you can see her truck photos:

https://m.facebook.com/?refsrc=http%...00002425947680

 

I always just put a bunch of 2x4 scraps down with a pile of cardboard on top of them, get the transfer case broke loose and give it a shove. Never damaged one yet. You aren't ever going to hurt that big chunk of iron with a little fall.