I'm gearing up to tackle replacing my TC on my 99 f250 4x4, with the manufacturer date of 5/98. With 268,000+- miles. All stock, other than oversized tires and leveling kit.

A little back ground: My TC has made the rattle trap noise for YEARS, but it has finally gotten to the point I can no longer live with it. I have had minor delayed shifting, I believe from 2nd to 3rd. But this doesn't seem to be a consistent problem.
I think I puked out a some fluid a few years ago, climbing a steep pass with camper in tow. I assume it was either the TC or the seal between it and the front pump, from things I've read.
I had recently replaced the fluid before this trip so at the time I thought I may have just over filled it and or altitude was a possible culprit. That is until further reading recently which had me thinking this may have been my one and only possible over heating of the transmission. I also experienced some over drive issue around this same time. My memory is a little foggy. Wouldn't engage when it should I believe, without turning it on and off? 🤔
All that said I haven't had any other issues really with basic daily driving other than the current TC and or Flexplate noise and the occasional slow to shift symptoms.

Which brings me to my real questions, am I crazy to go to the trouble to replace the TC, flexplate and front pump seal, if that's the right term, without doing a full rebuild?
I've also started to considering throwing a valve body at it as well, after further reading up on the subject.
I would of course do fluid filter, flush/change and the front pump seal?
Obviously I'm throwing some money at a less than ideal situation but it's going to cost a fraction of what a rebuild would cost. With the hopes of getting some more time out of this rig.
Any tips to be successful at this approach or is it just plan foolhardy all the way around?
Appreciate any help!

Todd

 

honestly, it's impossible to tell, because some of these e4od, 4r100, 5r110 transmissions blow my mind at how long they last. If you're doing the work yourself to replace the torque converter, i dont think it's silly not to rebuild knowing that you may have to pull it again later. You could have another 100k left, more even, or another 5k.

 

Thanks 89F2urd I appreciate the encouragement and comformation of my thinking 🍻

 

So you're sure it's not the front driveline? Is the double cardan working okay? No slop in its mechanics?