Looking at getting a a built tranny from Goerend, how difficult would it be to do the swap by myself? I'm mechanically inclined, but haven't never doen one.

OR.....would it be better to just pay someone to do it?

Thanks

 

Just finished mine today. In my opinion the hardest part is the **** torx heads on the front driveshaft. Its really easy! Just make sure you have a good transmission jack. Do you have a good flat cement slab to work on? Where are you located? Im in Phoenix so I was fighting the heat too.

 

I'd have to say the same exact thing!!! I ended up having to weld a bit on to one of the front torx heads to get it out...... I would say if you are going to do it spray the bolts every day for a a week with penetrating oil... and make sure you have new bolts ready cuz your going to ruin them.... other than that its easy

 

You don't need to remove the front of the front drive shaft. Just undo it from the transfer case and strap it to the frame.

Out of the many, many trannys I've pulled out of 3rd gens, never once removed the front drive shaft completly.

 

Ditto what JFlory said... I've replace mine myself the last 4 times... I'm down to 3.5 hours from start to finish. By myself. Definately need a tranny jack.

1st time took me 6.5 hrs....

 

Maybe mine is diff but i HAD to take the front driveshaft off... There was no possible way i could get it out without doing...

 

Tim Barber did mine a couple times in the old 03 and he never pulled the shaft either.
I was gonna do it myself, after having done trans work on my old Road Runner for years, but that big huge transfer case just scared the crap out of me. It is just too awkward. I applaud any of you who tackle that thing yourself...

 

toughest thing can be seperating the transfer case fromthe trans........ some briliant engineer put a drain hole in them and it actuall lets water grime salt in there and the materials oxidize between the pieces making for a real bugger to get apart. Depending on the condition of your old trans you might want to flush the lines on the truck after you remove the old tranny to get out any bad fluid, don't want that runnin around a nice goerend unit.

 

a buddy of mine did my tranny, engine oil change and truck running in 1 hour and 45 minutes. we were a pile of sweat and oil but it was cool. having a lift and all the right tools helped too

 

Everything is pretty straight forward, but I don't think that I could lay on the floor and change one now that I have a hoist in my shop. If your anywere around Iowa stop by Dave's pick up the tranny and drive on over. I live about 45 minutes from Dave's shop. Well get it changed!

 

I didnt even look at leaving the driveshaft hooked up to the front diff, prob would have worked BUT I am the type that likes everything out of the way. I am in no hurry, used hand tools for everything (no air tools). Still an easy job. Doing something like this on a car without a hoist, now theres a raw deal.