I am looking to get an ATS torque converter and valve body in a few months, I am wondering how hard it is to pull the tranny on a third gen?

How much is involved in changing a valve body?
Any special tools or auto tranny experience required to do the valve body?

I know I can handle the TC, but I have never done a VB.

Thanks in advance, CJ

 

Well, I had timinva do my TC (I helped a little) because I was a little intimidated by the huge transfer case. I also don't have a lift and it seemed like it was going to be really hard getting the trans out once I got it loose from the engine. It really wasn't that hard of a job but maybe it just seemed that way because Tim and his friend really knew what they were doing.
As far as the VB goes, I did that myself and it really isn't that hard. It's very messy taking the VB out as fluid runs all down your arm and just makes a big mess. You do have to take some parts off the old VB and put them on the new one but it's easy. They send you an old style filter which needs 3 bolts and the 2 stock bolts weren't long enough. Thank God I had some old filter bolts from my Road Runner days. I did mine while the trans was still in the truck. Do yourself a favor and put a B&M drainplug in the pan while it's off...

 

Actually, it's pretty simple. I did mine by myself over the course of a few days (couple of hours a day - wasn't in any big rush), but with a helper you could easily do it in a day. You can see some pictures here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~tlawrence5/trans/trans1.html

Obviously, it's easier with the truck in the air, but it can be done with the truck on the ground, if you get a transmission adapter for your floor jack. The transfer case only weights about 100lbs. - easy enough to remove by yourself, but since you're just looking to change the TC, you could probably leave it attached to the trans, and slide them back as a unit (be sure to brace the back of it so it doesn't fall off the jack when you remove the TC).

The TripleLok is a heavy unit, and awkward to handle when trying to put it on the input shaft. Definately get a helper with this if you're doing it underneath the truck.

 

Yes those converters are heavy!

 

Anyone know where to get one of these adapters?

 

Where can you get an upgraded valve body ?