JT has it right for minor "tune". I would spend an extra $80 and get a rebuilt torque converter from your local trans shop, but shop around. If you are getting the trans from a parts yard (pick a part etc), get the return warranty. Many cars make it to a junk yard for transmission reasons. They also drain the fluids at these yards, so get 3-4 gallons of trans fluid.

 

A little New info. I bought this van almost exactly 1 year ago from a local repair shop. The van was in there for a transmission. This shop "farmed out" the repair job to a local rebuilder. Now, I thought this was a good thing, but here I am with the whole "blown up transmission" problem.

I am wondering if the converter the rebuilder put in would be worth trying to reuse. It looks new? But if the snap ring got chewed up, then there is debris in the converter too? can it be flushed or is it likely that the converter is chewed to hell too?

 

"K"nine-I had the same problem with mine. What I did? I saw that my "BLOW UP?" was and usually is either the main body of the tranny that you can unbolt after the pan comes off. This area unless you rebuild it is usually toast because of all of the passages and such that can get blocked by debris easily. When mine let go it was the overdrive (small shaft size of your finger), but still I wanted to changed everything just to be sure. I don't know your mechanical back ground, but I would most certainly change everything so I would know that I didn't have any lingering problems from the original problem you see what mean?
If your going into it to save the torque converter-forget it. I recommend that when you get another tranny, every place I've gone to sells it together as a set since it was part of the tranny.

Also, the way to look at it is that realize that parts where together and work better as their own original set. When you start to go about it in a way that this will work with this item-and that with this, but well-you see what I mean.

The salvage yards I go to around here (top of Florida "Pensacola") offer transmissions for around 70 bucks -now thats with me pulling them myself, but what you get is the piece of mind knowing you're the one doing it and it hasn't been dropped or banged around. If your new to the game have a buddy go with you. I did one last time myself in an hour,but thats with alot of experience. I'd day 2 1/2 hour tops for a newby is you don't run into any snags. Dog house removed (under dash cover "clasps"), you gain access to top flange, then the bottom sides-next-you'll need a 15 mm socket with either a small extension or have it as a deepwell attached to either a breaker bar or a large (1/2" drive ratchet) onto the bottom bolt that goes through your harmonic balancer (bottom pulley). This is needed to hold down "in place" your torque converter. There is a small oval inspection place held in witha couple of cap screws onto the pass. side of your motor to gain access to the flywheel to torq. converter flange mounting. If your having problems in that area you can (but it will make more work for you) go to the drivers side and remove the starter and then you'll have another port. Be carefull here though since the metal shim isn't cut as "open" as the other side. After you've done that it's pretty much down hill from there. Obviously you need to unhook the throttle and linkage on the drive side (I recommend digital pics or draw your connections on paper to assist you on build up. Don't think you can go by memory. I've tried this and what usually happens is that you end up not working on it for another 3 weeks. BYE BYE MEMORY! Your cross member underneath. There are 2 large nuts afixed to the studs protruding down from he tranny. I belive there are 18mm-19mm?-or around 3/4" standard.

Last bit of advise. Remove all of your area of your vans mechanics 1st them write dwown your sizes of wrenches, sockets misc. tools that YOU used in your own driveway. This will greatly enhance your junk yard visit by cutting down on your job time and what heavy crap you need to carry into the yard.

ps-digital pictures are the way to go on all removals.-Boz

 

do a flush with both fluid and air of all transmission coolers and line

most flush attempts on torque converters are not successful if the transmission has grenaded and turned into a buzz saw grinder

 

Kingnine,

Is there a chance that you can post pictures of the damage? I'd like to see where this snap ring is, and what to look out for.

 

I would have loved to get pictures of the teardown and the damage. Problem is I needed to do this quick, because its my only car. I took it to the best shop I could find in town and he tore it down to give me an estimate. I couldn't afford $2300 rebuild, so I got it back in boxes. Here are some pictures.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...lbumId=1348153
If you tell me what to look for, I'll take some more pictures...?

Got the local junkyard man on the job for a tranny. Good news - this donor van was running until head gasket blew, so tranny might be decent. Bad news - van didn't show up friday, so I couldn't start work this weekend. Bummer.

96-4wdr - what is the easiest way to flush cooler? I think I have an electric oil transfer pump lying around somewhere; the kind you use for boat oil changes. Would that work?

P.S. Borrowing your parents' car to go to work sucks.

 

King9

-Looks like he was going to charge you a "KING" price. Forget the repair. Once junk always junk. Now it is apart? There could be an item either messed up or missing now that some one has had their grubby mitts on it.

Do not pass go-get another tranny. What? it costs too much? Get a salvage one like I suggested.

I saw on your profile you live in Florida. Where at?

If I'm close enough I'll come to you and put one in for free. I have 2 spares. I'M serious. I live in Niceville Florida 32578. If that doesn't work I'll mail it to you. The post office usually charges 1 dollar for a pound on the average. If you pay for the shipping I'll let you have it for free.

Now-no more talk please about the over charge from the service stations. Free tranny. Can you get any better for that? Shoot me back a reply. If not GOOD LUCK. Enough said. ------Have a nice day Boz

 

Bozzzz -

Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!!!!!
I'm in Melbourne. I am VERY INTERESTED IN FREE. Mapquest says its ~7 hours away.

I posted some pictures for all you people that know something bout trannys.
Tell me what you see! I will take more photos if you want.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...lbumId=1348153

 

Pay for shipping? No Problem. Can I ship you a Steak Dinner?

 

Tranny Cooler & Line Flush click

use a couple cans of this thru both disconnected lines and coolers
avail. at many auto parts stores and local tranny shops
followup with compressed air, can rent a small compressor

I use acetone from paint store but there is a fire danger using this.
no electric motors with sparking brushes around when using
usually remove lines and coolers/radiator so I can slosh it around and get the low spots high

wear chem. gloves and eye protection whatever you use.
be sure to blow out all cleaner and let set to dry

if you have the 4L engine, you will need the stronger 4L tranny
can use the 4L tranny in 3L.

 

Kingnine:

Your link just takes me to http://www.myspace.com/
Home page. Would like to see the pictures but can't find them.

JaY

 

Thanks for the link 96_4wdr.

I checked repeatedly with the junkyard man that this was a tranny from a 4l aero. He said it was, so I hope it is. The transmission Bozzzz so generously just offered me for shipping seems the way to go though. he is right about the handling of parts. Bozzzz, the tranny you have is for 4L too?

 

http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h126/divine91177/

here guys sorry try this one

 

that tranny is easily rebuildable
there is only light damage in the overdrive clutch drum
a master rebuilt kit will get you all the springs, steels and frictions for this drum
even the sprag and torrington bearing look good but I would replace both if mine
just a new clutch pack end plate and snap ring
replace all snap rings
even the bands look good from what I can see but would replace those also
$300 parts would rebuild it

nice photos
closeups of bushings, frictions surfaces, torrington flat bearings and planetary gear surfaces would help

 

I would like to rebuild it, but I just don't have the time right now. I think with your suggestion I will keep it and build it in my spare time.