I have a 1999 F250 SD 7.3l automatic 2 wheel drive w/ 325k miles on it. The transmission functions flawlessly, but it leaks like hell, I'm talking a quart every 2 weeks. A local shop wants $2100 and the truck really isn't worth it.

This is a good running truck, I am impressed with how well it runs, but it leaks oil/trans fluid, so I don't want to put 2.1k into it and then maybe 10k miles later need an engine rebuild.

I plan to rebuild it myself (providing it's not too hard). Has anyone ever rebuilt one of these transmissions? If anyone has tips or a picture guide, I would be grateful. Also, if anyone has links to a good parts kit, that would be nice as well.

Thanks

 

Where is it leaking? If it runs flawlessly as you stated, it may not need to be rebuilt, just find the leak and stop that. It could be a cooler line has a hole in it, or maybe the pan gasket has finally called it quits. Either one is an easy fix.

If it's simply leaking from around your pan, it's probably the gasket. Just buy yourself a Wix tranny filter kit for about $15, and most of them come with a new rubber gasket for the pan. Also, buy 16 quarts of ATF. The fix would simply be to do a full transmission flush and filter change, but instead of re-using the existing gasket, you put on the new rubber one that came with the filter. You probably need to do all of this anyway.

If it's your cooler lines going to/from the cooler on the radiator, just replace the line.

 

the mechanic said it is leaking from somewhere in the bell housing and the trans pan. he also says he heard some whining during shifting and that it shifted funny (ive never noticed this). He said the engine is leaking from the front and rear main seals.

sorry for misstating, I am not actually the one who visited the mechanic.

So, the way it seems is that the trans could use rebuilding before things get worse, and the engine needs to be resealed.

This truck has 325k and is fairly beat up (no rust, just dents and the like). My choices right now seem to be sell it, or reseal the engine and rebuild the trans. I will have a lot of free time as I will be done with school on Friday. Do you think it's worth trying to do this kind of work myself (can I do it without screwing things up and for a reasonable cost)?

edit: just learned front main is no big deal