My father and I currently looking to replace the trans. as stated. We really just need to know, what goes into replacing one, as in, can we do it our selves? and if anyone has tips or advice to help us with it, it would greatly appreciated. My father is mechanically inclined, but if its too much to get into, we'd likely have a more experienced person do the job. We're replacing the entire transmission, not rebuilding.

 

It's not THAT involved, but it is a lot of hard work. Depending on which transmission is in it the trans can weigh almost 300 pounds.

If you decide to tackle it I recommend a good shop manual. Haynes and Chilton manuals are not what I would call a good manual. You can find a Ford manual on Ebay, or buy a new one at Service Manuals, Owner Manuals, Wiring Diagrams, Service Bulletins - Helm Incorporated

 

Swapping out the automatic transmission is not that difficult of a job.

I've done several over the years, and ended up doing a '92 E350's E4OD twice last year. Swapped in a used from a donor I had, and after 4 months, ended up getting a re-man E40D.

Shops charge from $400 to $600 for the swap.

The one item you really need (besides what Mr.Kovalsky recommended) is a good HD transmission jack like this -



Having a 1/2" air impact and deep impact sockets are also very helpful.

You should be able to find some links on what others posted on swapping out the transmission here on FTE search.

You need to get the van up high enough to be able to get the transmission and jack out from under the van.

Vans have an advantage over the F series, as the top 2 mounting bolts are inside the dog house, and easy to get to.

Also, you'll want to get a can of cooler flush for the transmission lines and coolers, and follow the directions on the can for doing that.

And, a case+ of transmission fluid. Depending on what model your doing.

A good day and half of wrestling bolts and the transmission around, and lots of greasy work, and your up and running

 

or get one of these....


Transmission Floor Jack Adapter - TCI® Auto

 

"Lot of hard work, get a factory manual, get special jacks" Geez-o-pete guys, way to discourage. To me it sounds like a perfectly reasonable father son project. If at least one of you is mechanically inclined, I think you can probably do it without a manual and without a special jack. I've got the manual but I don't have a special jack and I've done it a couple times. I did check the manual but I was mostly bored while reading through all the obvious stuff you need to do to change the tranny - ex "remove driveshaft"

BTW the drive shaft has funny bolts and takes a 12-point either 12mm or 13mm wrench.

You need to be careful backing the transmission off because the torque converter will fall off the front of the transmission and onto the ground if you don't hold it in place. There's some special ford tool for that but I've used a bent piece of metal with a hole in it with much success. Come to think of it, you're probably replacing all of that anyhow so it doesn't matter.

A regular floor jack fits under the dimple in the bottom of the transmission nicely and as long as you have two people handling the transmission, you won't need a special jack. I don't know how much it weighs, but the clowns who last changed a transmission for me put the old one in the back of the van so I had a present to remove before I could use the van. I pulled it out and carried it by myself about 20 ft with no slipped disks or hernia problems.

Caveat, this is all 2006 and later. I think the '04 would be very similar but don't know for certain.

 

If it is a 4R100 it weighs 270 pounds without fluid in it, so almost 300 filled. A 4R70W is closer to 200 pounds, and a 5R110 is right at 300 pounds. So you're pretty strong.

 

Yeah , I've done them with floor jacks and a block of wood or a piece of plywood but having the right tools help especially if you don't do this for a living or are short handed..

 

I think I was mainly fueled by rage as the transmission had spilled fluid all over the back of the van and I couldn't imagine why they thought I would want that dirty shot transmission in the back of the van in the first place.

But seriously, it was a 4R70W. You probably can't prance around with it but it's manageable to heft from one place to another.

 

I think there's a nice middle ground between advising that you should have specialty equipment and advising that you can manhandle it with wood blocks and elbow grease. I've done transmissions solo in the past (admittedly not on a Ford van), and while it's a pain in the **** with standard jacks and wood blocks, it can be done. On the other hand, I would gladly welcome the use of special trays and jack plates to help carry the load safely for me. Especially since I'm older and less apt to bullrush into any job MacGyver style.

Last one I did was probably 3 years ago, a 2001 Taurus. Definitely not the same animal as the van, but as a solo DIY it was manageable. Now, the 78 Chevy 4x4 I did about 10 years ago solo was a true adventure. That transfer case weighs about as much as a small elephant, for cripe's sake. I was probably quite lucky I survived that war injury free. I wouldn't do that solo again. Muscling that beast up onto the stupid wood blocks was a perilous adventure, to say the least, and I remember that balancing it long enough to get it back in place sprouted a few gray hairs and prompted a few sentence enhancers to flow out. And if the weight shifts, be ready to roll out of the way fast. Not something I recommend.

In other words, if you're comfortable doing this job and feel you have the appropriate mechanical skillset, have at it. Just be careful.

 

Sucks getting old. Some jobs that were so easy now require the use of jacks . My brother had a 914 that I used to lift by myself so he could swap a tire out. I used to do that on sprint cars too.......Now....I have 4 different floor jacks....LOL

 

While we lose a physical step as we age, for sure, there is also a very nice flip side benefit. With this age comes wisdom. I am now smart enough to let tools do the work for me when I can. Example- at my job, it's sometimes a requirement to lift 100+ pound chassis on and off of pallets. The younger guys step up and manhandle them up by themselves. Us older guys work in tandem while the young ones call us wimps. See, I could lift that puppy up if I wanted to, but I now have the wisdom of knowing that I do not need to.

I also know way better than to lay under a 4x4 transfer case on a floor jack and a 2x4 on the driveway trying to wiggle up the bolt alignments! Man I was lucky, looking back...

 

Agree.........13 years ago I swapped out a C6 in a '89 E250, the floor jack was not working, kept sliding off, got underneath the tranny and on my chest I installed it......note.......13 younger years ago.

Like I said, the special transmission jack is Very Helpful. I bought one last year when I had to do the E4OD, and can be used for other things, like gas tanks, ect. well spent $120. Didn't have to worry about any doctor bills either.

I've done a bunch of AW4's and BA10's with 231 transfer cases on Jeeps, and have the scissor type for them, but it's not heavy duty enough for the Ford trannys.

Like you said.......us older folk work smarter, not harder

 

No doubt.

Personally , I'd fab something to go on my jack

 

I agree, and there are some Transmission Adapters that can go on floor jacks.

But, with the transmission jack, the casters swivel 360*, the plate tilts side to side, and front to back tilt for lining up. Plus the chain to hold the tranny on the base.

 

No doubt but is it worth it for just doing 1 trans? Or even 2 or 3?
To me , no. I can add a chain to anything. Thats about 1 minute extra of welding. I can move cars with a floor jack , steering a trans is easy.
If I was doing them day in and day out I think it would be worth it.