C6 Automatic Rebuild

[scorcher1967]

Some of you may recall the disaster at last years AACS. The huge puddle of tranny fluid, the lack of forward or reverse motion, the indignity of the tow truck, etc...

Well, 5 months (tight funds, little free time, no room) later, I have the tranny and motor out of the Machine. Quick inspection, lots of bad stuff in the tranny pan. Time for a rebuild.

I ordered the clutch pack compressor tool, and a C6 rebuild manual. I am debating a stock NAPA auto soft parts kit, or the broaderperformance 500HP kit. I am also considering broaderperformances wide ratio kit, for reduced 1st and 2nd gears. Possibly a r-code servo?

There will be a tech session, hopfully in February. Would be great to get some extra hands around (or hecklers, for those of you who ask why bother with rebuilding an auto? convert to a 5 speed! *side note, I have amassed the parts to convert my 64 fairlane wagon to a stick, only missing the T-5, and hydraulic clutch kit*

[4ZZS]

My hands are not experienced in such matters, but they can handle a camera to catch all the action!

Keep us advised on when and what.

Ken

[scorcher1967]

Short notice alert!

I will teardown the C6 tomorrow. I cleared out some workspace, and finally found a use for an old stainless steel table I have been saving.

I used to break down whole salmons on this thing. Its about 8 feet long, and has three drains in one end. I have used it before, flipped the other way as a welding table, but realized having the lip and drains would be awesome for not losing little parts, and clean up later. Who would have guessed that old restaurant equipment would be so useful to a gear head!

I will try to get a better heads up on the reassembly for you all. Got to tear it down, inspect and clean it (and figure out which year rebuild kit to buy, its a 74 truck case, a 70 ford car pump, internals could be anything!) Check the bearings etc...

[mustang6]

Nice table. I can't help but think how handy that would come in when dressing out big game. Anyway back to the tranny rebuild. I just posted an article on doing my c4 tranny pan. have you thought about installing a drain plug in yours or did c6 trannys come with them. Makes it easier down the road if you want to change your fluid

[4ZZS]

Wow, that's one big Jello mold!

[scorcher1967]

That table would work great for dressing out game. It used to dress out hundreds of pounds of Copper River Salmon! Now, dressing out a Ford C6 tranny. Have not attempted to make jello in it....yet....look for future tech session? And my pan, thankfully, already has a drain plug. Same plug the oil pan uses, for convenience.

After another minor setback (lost parking pawl shaft down the drain during pressure wash) and finding a replacement (thanks to corey at Best Western Transmission in FTC!) Inspection showed heavy wear/burn debris in the pan. Further inspection shows....NOTHING! Clutch plates still have manufacture lettering on the surface, all bearings show minimal wear, pump gear looks brand new. No broken springs, nothing. Took a few parts back to Best Western. Corey and I talked it over. Seems like a Pump failure, but the pump looks flawless. We talked more about the giant puddle under the car, I remembered the lower pump bolts looked like they were too long. Diagnosis, pump seal failure, causing all fluid to push out the bellhousing, and giving no hydraulic pressure to the system. IE, no tranny work.

Argh.. reassembly begins this afternoon, and continues tomorrow afternoon.

[scorcher1967]

First, some photos! Step one, get ridiculously large transmission off floor, onto table. (used my engine hoist)

Next, take said tranny apart

Inspect, and find perfect components inside?



Anyway, started putting everything back together. ToBeContinued, tomorrow. Assuming I can modify the shift lever tomorrow morning.

[mustang6]

Beware of pocket hardware, the stuff that is leftover after you think you are done reassembling something of this nature

[4ZZS]

Congrats on the dismantling. Good luck on the reassembly.
Ken