hey all.i'm getting ready to drop in the new motor and tranny,but thinking of doing a rebuild on the trans.is this something i can do in the garage,or is there special tools involved?pretty handy with tools,but never tackled a tranny before. i found a master rebuild kit for$59.,but want to check and see everyone's opinions.thank you and drive safe...chuck. almost forgot...motor is a 72 302,and the tranny is a 73 c-4.
Only special tool you need is to replace the O ring at the bottom of the forward drum. You have to push down on a plate in order to remove a snap ring. I have used a piece of exhaust pipe and a vice but it is real ham& egg. Everything else is basic hand tools. It is real helpful to get the rebuilders guide and video if this is your first time. Get the thrust washer assortment as well. Here is where I get my parts. http://www.bulkpart.com/ Cleaver
I would try and find the Hayne's Ford tranny book, most auto stores should have one or you can go to any public library and copy out of there manuals on hand. Usually won't let you check them out, too many greasy hand prints etc. on return. Some other tools you will need are, dial indicator to read correct end play of the input shaft"before and after rebuild". Also a good pair of external snap ring pliers and a set of feeler gages for clutch pack clearance's. Also a dial vernier caliper or 1inch outside micrometer to measure thust washers and sometimes clutch, steel and fibre disc's. Be sure and soak the new one's in fluid for 15 or 20 minutes before assy. Couple other tips are to use a drill press and fabricated pusher to compress the spring on the clutch drum mentioned before, to remove the snap ring there. I use a 1/4 in piece of bar stock with a couple of piece's of short stock welded on, to push on the spring retainer. If your quill shaft on the drill press can lock down is great, if not you can wedge a socket or some other device between it and the headstock to hold it down. I find that a couple of pocket screw drivers work well to get the snap ring dislodged, rather than the normal pliers with rounded tips that keep slipping off the tapered ends of the ring. Follow the book, sometimes devise a easier way to do some of the procedures, if you want, and keep everything "CLEAN-CLEAN-CLEAN' It is a piece of cake once you get the hang of it. Quite a feeling to do it yourself then fire her up and put the lever in D and it jumps foward in gear. Pat yourself on the back and sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
I have a copy of the Haynes manual. If you need copies, tell me what sections and I will snail mail it to you, unless only a couple pages, then I can email.
