[apimpdad]

You might be able to squeeze it out without removing the exhaust. But other than that, disconnect drive shaft, unplug all connectors from tranny, remove torque converter bolts, remove tranny crossmember, disconnect shifter linkage, and remove the bell housing bolts and drop it down. You will probably want to drain the fluid first. Oh and if you have a factory or aftermarket tranny cooler, don't forget to disconnect the lines for that too.

That's all there really is to it.

 

[apimpdad]

I've never handled a torque converter before. Does it just unbolt and slide out or is there a specific way to get it lined up. How do you drain the fluid from the torque converter? Does it come out when you drain the pan? What about flushing the lines? I've heard you can flush the lines with cheap stuff before you refill it.. In that manual it was saying to remove the starter. Is that necessary?

Draining the fluid from the pan does not drain fluid out of the torque converter. You will unbolt the torque converter bolts (I can't recall how many there are, maybe 8?) from the little window at the front of the tranny under the motor (There will be a cover plate with a 14mm bolt you have to remove to do so). But once you do that and remove the bell housing bolts, all you have to do is drop the tranny with the converter in it, you will not be able to remove the converter until the tranny is out. But are you re-using your old converter? If not then don't worry about it after you take out the old tranny.

With flushing the lines, I just like to blow them out with compressed air into a bucket. Now you may want to run some cheap fluid through it if you got water in the fluid or something but if not, then just use air.

And no, you do not need to remove the starter.

 

[apimpdad]

Ok thanks for the tip. I am not reusing the torque converter the tranny i bought has one already in it. So i guess I just stick it up there and make sure the bolts are lined up? Does it matter what order? When I refill the tranmission will it fill up the converter as well or just the pan?

If your new tranny's converter doesn't have any fluid in it, I would pour some in it at first. I don't know how much though, that thing holds a lot of fluid, probably put int 2 quarts or so then put it back on the input shaft, spinning it to make sure it seats all the way on. You may think its all the way on but spin it and push and it will probably go on further. What I did was get the tranny lined up with the motor, throw in a bell housing bold on each side, then put line up the converter with the flywheel and put one bolt in there. Then you will want to put in and tighten all bell housing bolts first, then finish installing the converter bolts.

 

[apimpdad]

How long does it take to swap it out.. with two people working on it? Just a reasonable estimate...

I could probably do it in about 2 hours with help. But I have done it may times before. For a first time I would say a full day.

 

[apimpdad]

Instead of being a flywheel turning tool, I just turned the motor/trans over with the crank bolt at the front of the motor. If you already have that size wrench then just use it. Saves you $15.

 

[apimpdad]

Good to hear that the 04 tranny's work with in the older trucks. :tu: