Anyone interested in a trans rebuilding 'class' or tech page?

OK - just thought that since a lot of you are running old / used trannys I'd be willing to do an informal "how to" class on rebuilding a trans or have someone come over and take photos and notes on it then post it up. Probably pick a manual and an automatic something popular for swaps/rods like the T5 manual and powerglide or TH350 auto (although I've got to do an AOD for myself soon - could do that one?) Would probably keep it to doing a basic teardown, inspection and rebuild on a good core (i.e. something that didn't explode it's guts...)

Just wondering if anyone would be interested - don't mind helping others learn about the "mysterious" world of transmission work ... OH and I'm located near Kansas City if someone wants to do this.

Just throwin it out there...

 

I'll take photos.
I live up the street from you in Independence.
r

 

I would eat that up witha spoon!!!! I live too far away to come for class, but I'd love to learn more (which would be easy because I now nothing). Trannies are mysterious.

Great idea, and with Tech week coming up....

 

That would be GREAT. I've been planning a '39 type rebuild article for a long time, but I'm just getting started on the posting of printed info and photographs with a lot of help from Flathead Youngin on the current Stromberg series, so my trans post is way down the road.

 

It sounds like a great idea....

one thing about transmissions that is hard for an inexperienced person to figure out, is how to tell if the parts are worn too much to be re-used. If you could provide good photos of some parts that are good, marginal, and bad, it would be a big help. For example, manual gears show synchro teeth that are still ok, some that are rounded too much, some that have too much side wear. On automatics, show the drum where the sealing rings ride, and shafts where they ride in bushings (such as the th350 input shaft).

Also if there are ways to "cheat" with special tools...how to make your own spring comressor for automatic clutch drums, bushing drivers, etc. or how to talk a local trans shop into doing these tasks for a reasonable price.

 

Sounds like a great idea! The only tranny that ive ever seen the insides of was a SP400.



I might have access to a thread where a good friend of mine rebuilt a SwitchPitch Tranny and posted pic by pic, step by step.

 

That would be cool.. I'm interested..

 

This would be great, especially for automatics. A photo-tech on the HAMB would be a real help. Squirrel had some really good suggestions on his post up there. I have a TH350 with shift problems and I'm not sure whether its valve body or governor or too many beers while we put it back together (so to speak). Go for it!

 

I have a TH350 from an 81 Camaro I am willing to donate for the cause of this future thread.

 

Im down for the cause. I can supply cores, and I know a parts guy

 

Yes

 

I'd just like to know how to get that damned speedo gear off the shaft in my 65 small shaft muncie so I can finish tearing it down without putting it in the machine shop for a few weeks till they lose it.

 

Geez - go away for a couple of minutes and there's a bunch of replies already....

To answer some questions in no particular order...

I think I've got an old manual around showing pics of "good", "bad" and "marginal" parts, Might be able to make scans of that and post. Of course some of the descriptions are a little conservative as they're wanting to be sure they won't have complaints from the "customer" so I might have some comments on what can be used and what the results are...

I like doing things the cheap way - made my own tranny holder, drum spring compressor, use "non-standard" tools to remove parts, etc. Basicly do it like any good shadtree mechanic would with limited funds and a little injenuity...

53sled - drop me a line on parts/cores....

Might post a poll on doing an auto or a manual first... Also - if anyone knows of web resources where this has already been detailed out I don't want to be duplicating work that's already been done by someone out there...

OK - edit - Looked for a T5 page - and found a good one...
http://pomoforacing.com/tech/T5Rebuild2002.pdf - looked for a TH350 and Powerglide and didn't find one quickly...

 

just press it off! or use the special puller tool.

If you don't have either one, then you will need to visit a friendly machine shop with a 18 pack of beer in one hand and the trans in the other...

 

Ah, forgot about the beer. Trick is to give them 1 while you're discussing the problem and then tell them you'll bring the rest back when the job's done. You'll usually get it done right there on the spot! Without the beer you get "Drop it off and we'll try to get to it next Thursday."

 

One of the best Powerglide rebuilding books, for street or strip is "Powerglide Transmission Handbook" by Carl H. Munroe. List price $18.95, available at www.overstock.com for $12.77.

 

Exactly what Squirrel said. Some focus on where to look for wear. Methods to bench test automatics would help.

 

A t-5 rebuild would be cool since they are up and comming. Plus, tricks to help or modify it would be a plus.

 

Sounds like a great plan!

 

Hey Neighbor! I Would Be Interested, I Am Trying To Put One Together Now. I Am In The Midst Of All Of You Wise Persons. Blue Springs

 

I would like to see a th350 tech, I could really learn alot because I dont know a thing about them! Shaun.

 

I've got 2 aluminum powerglides, a th400, and a 727 that you could use too. As long as I got them back of course. I'm in Jefferson City.

 

Speaking as an inexperienced person, this is right on. A photo walkthrough would be great. A photo walkthrough that explained what to look for would be even better.

 

This would be a great tech thread! And, as everyone is voicing their choices as to the transmission to build, I'd like to cast my vote for a Chrysler A833 4-speed. Of course, the fact that I am going to be rebuilding one has nothing to do with my selection. The trannys are basically the same for all Chryslers, whether big block or small block. Kind of a fits-all.

Anyway, it is really nice of you to volunteer to do this. Many of us really need an education on trannys and to have one of our own give the lessons is great. Thanks again for the offer.

 

for all that asked - I'll have to pull the manuals and such that I've got stashed away (somewhere) and pull the images of good / bad parts to suppliment whatever we come up with - it's hard to get pics of good and bad stuff if there isn't any bad stuff to be found....

Chopped50Ford - look at the page I linked - goes into detail on a T5 rebuild - if anything isn't clear ask and I can clarify, but I think it does a good enough job that I don't need to re-do that work... I'd be willing to show some people "hands on" if needed.

"Hi Bob" - what trans are you trying to put together - if 'ya need help just drop a PM.

Orange54 - come on over and maybe we can have a "class" on PG's - I think I've got 2 that can be used one for a drag race build and one for a circle track build so we can have a couple of different mods... That way you could learn and do your own tranny and have some pride knowing that if it fails you could tear it down and rebuild it.

OK - after looking at the responses - the automatics are being asked about more, so thinking about starting "easy" I'm leaning towards doing a powerglide first, then do a 3-speed (Th350?) then get into the OD stuff (AOD). Most of the concepts are exactly the same in any of them and they can build upon each other. Each MFGR did things a little different, but the basics are all the same - once you've got the basics down the rest is just mfgr specific stuff - and then learning each tranny's weakness and what fails commonly on that particular model trans.

Now it's just scheduling something... PM me if you're interested in trying to see it "in person"

 

YES!!!! Either auto would suffice, but the AOD especially (cause I have one that will need soon lol) and also because I think alot of ppl are afraid to run them due to poor history in holding up to any sort of engine period.

Awesome idea!!!

 

YES!!! PLEASE!!!

Powerglide and TH350 would be great!!!

 

Tech page would be great!

 

Tech Page would be good, I don't think I could make it to a class
TH350 gets my vote

 

Dont forget us Ford guys! A C4 or C6 how-to along with some basic upgrades would be nice.
Oh, I also have running vehicles with TH350, TH400, 904 and 727. However some very near future projects will be around the Fords!