Originally posted by waterbrain:
Well, after doing significant research over the past few days and spending countless hours rummaging through the TDR Archives, I placed an order today with DTT for their Torque Converter (618-91) and their Valve Body (012480) - heck... it's only money, right? Should ship later this week and I should be able to make plans for getting it in my truck in a couple of weeks. Any suggestions for installations? Is this a do-it-yourselfer-driveway-job or am I better off footing the bill for a shop install? If the shop is the way to go, any recommendations? I'm in Sacramento... DTT recommended Kustom Truck in Yuba. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
If you've pulled a transmission before, you should be able to do this. Having said that, if you do it yourself, it would be a good idea to crawl underneath ahead of time and make sure you have all the tools you're going to need and about 17-18 quarts of ATF and most of a whole day. This is a good time to put on a Mag Hy-tech transmission pan, tail shaft seal, etc. This is how I did it:
I did this job alone, so I needed a way to manipulate the transmission safely without the need for another set of hands. So I unbolted all linkages/bell housing/drive shafts/transmission cooling lines from the transmission, took out 3 of the 4 x-member bolts from each side (leaving the top rear-most bolts in on each side) and took the jack from under the seat, cut a 2x4 to length to just fit the jack and 2x4 between the frame rails and spread them just enough to rotate the x-member backwards about 2 inches. With the transmission supported in the front with my floor jack and in the rear by the x-member, I slid the transmission/transfer case rearward about 6 inches which allowed just enough room to slide the old TC out and the new TC in. Be forewarned that the TC you take out is about 70 pounds or so and WILL LEAK fluid down your arms as you remove it. (If you do it this way make sure it is cool!) Be sure to start all six bolts through the flywheel into the TC before snugging them down as there is some play and the last one may not fit if the rest are already tight!
Anyways, this is how I approached it doing the job in my driveway. BTW, I put down a 10 ft by 20 ft thick plastic sheet under my truck to catch the oil and is a heck of a lot easier to slide around on your back than the concrete Enjoy, you will gain a healthy respect for the size/weight/strength of your truck's components and the end result is just magic.
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Kurt Voss
********* 1999 2500 24VCTD AUTO 4x4 QC LB Laramie SLT, Luverne stainless steel nerf bars, 3 piece bug deflector, mopar mud flaps, Line-X bedliner, Blue Chip Fuel Management System (Premium), Psychotty Air, DD3's,TTPM, DD 4" exhaust, HX40, DTT VB/TC(91%) , Mag-Hytec transmission pan... YEEEEEHAAAA!!
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