O.k , I got valve the covers done, now onto the tranny pan gasket. Slowly getting all these leaks taken care of since the previous owner left the truck sit for many years.

So is there any tips for changing the tranny pan gasket that I need to know? I have never done this before. Is pretty much like the valve covers?
Cork or rubber? RTV ? I imagine I will have to drop the skid plate.

Thanks for any advice.

79' F150 4x4 stepside auto C6 tranny

 

It's close to being like the valve covers, the big difference though is you'll need a drain pan underneath to catch the tranny fluid unless your pan happens to have a drain plug.
It probably won't have the plug so position the drain pan underneath and loosen all the bolts a couple of turns, then on one end start removing the bolts. When you get almost all the bolts out, if it hasn't started to drain already, hold the pan up with one hand and gently pry the end without any bolts down, letting the oil drain.
Once the pan is off, clean the pan and why not change the filter while you have the pan off. Wouldn't hurt to drain the torque converter too and refill with fresh fluid.
My personal preference is cork gaskets, use a thin coating of RTV on the pan gasket flange and install the gasket on the flange, line up all the holes and then turn the pan upside down on a flat hard surface and let the RTV set up.

 

It's a pretty simple job. Where Mike and I differ...I can never hit the catch pan...so have plenty of kitty litter around.

The ONLY hesitation have about a rig that old getting a tranny fluid change are the horror stories (and it has happened to me before) is the crud dislodges and plugs stuff up or lets stuff go. Caveat to that, is you just accelerated the process, chances are your tranny was one its way out anyway.

 

I did mine twice with cork gaskets and still leaked. Then I used a Moroso rubber/aluminum gasket and it worked perfectly. I used a thin bead of RTV on the pan and then put it back on. Don't overtighten the bolts!!

 

I never can either. I forgot that step with the kitty liter.

 

O.k..... so talk to me about this filter. Is it something I will see easily and can change once the tranny pan is removed.? I thought draining the converter is a major job? I am not sure.

Also, I am assuming the skid plate has to come off to take the tranny pan off ?

 

The filter is attached to the bottom of the valve body.
To drain the converter, remove the inspection cover at the front of the transmission, its located between the flexplate and the engine. The lower half is removable for access. The torque converter is attached to the flexplate with four nuts. Next to two of these nuts, 180 degrees apart, are a couple of pipe plugs. Remove these to drain the converter.

 

Filter (screen) is held in by a handful of screws...the torque converter just needs to be rotated until you see the drain plug. Unplug and let drain. Unless you can access all your tranny pan bolts and get your pan out of there, yes, you'll need to get that out of the way as well.

 

Wow !!! Pictures too !!!! That helps a ton. Thank you sir , and a tip of the hat to you.

Drain converter? Is that a major project?? And how?

So..... the skid plate ..... take it off to make it easier to get the tranny pan off or is there a magic trick to removing tranny pan ?

Sorry for my ignorance, I am new to this. I have the tools and the desire.....but not always the knowledge. Thank you.

 

Just saw 704 dentsides reply after I sent the last post. Thank you also.

 

No problem, happy to help.
As for being a novice, don't sweat it, all of us were novices at some point.
Doing the basics is not too complicated and once you do it one time, you'll see it's not that bad.
If you do run into road blocks , you've got a great resource right here. Just post a question and the answers will start to flow .

 

It's been a couple of years since I've changed the filter on a C6, but as I recall some of the screws are different lengths. As you remove the screws from the old filter, place them in the corresponding hole of the new filter. Also, don't go torque crazy on the screws, they aren't that big and if they're too tight you could distort the valve body.
I'm not trying to scare you or discourage you, just want you to be aware.

 

Is it necessary to drain the converter? Or is there a problem if I do not?

Thanks again, I will get my stuff ordered up and let the games begin!

 

Other than the converter holds a a good chunk of fluid. So if you're comfortable with 2qts (guesstimation) of old fluid riding around with you...then no problems.

 

HHHmmm....... maybe I should drain the converter. I will have to do a little more research. Hunt some pictures down and do the deed. I guess I would probably be better off in the long run.