BradR's 5R55E swap & valve body rebuild (diary-ish) | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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BradR's 5R55E swap & valve body rebuild (diary-ish)

BradR

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 28, 2009
Messages
900
Reaction score
2
City, State
Novi, MI
Year, Model & Trim Level
'99 EX 4.0 OHV
Hey all,

So I successfully broken my transmission in half while 3 hours up north during the 4th of July, after just rolling over to 177,777 miles :rolleyes: , and am now driving my friend's mother's 94 Eddie Bauer Explorer (winter beater)

Anyways, back to my truck, I thought it was just the extension housing, but after removal we found that a part of the transmission casing had broken as well and deemed not useable.

My plans are to..

1. Pick up a used trans preferrably low mileage (Completed, 67K from Glen's Car and Truck Part in Taylor(?) MI)
2. Rebuild the valve body and inspect the transmission a few times over to see if it's usable on the 67K. (Completed, problems: broken bell housing bolt tab, fix: use the bell housing off of my transmission that still in the truck. I have not yet rebuilt the valve body yet)

I picked up the 67K trans yesterday so I haven't gotten much progress done as of yet.

My truck is in my garage on 4 jack stands with no driveshafts, no transfercase and no extension housing, transmission is STILL IN.

I'm currently on page 4 of Glacier991's Rebuild diary (clicky)

I would like to order the Valve Body Rebuild kit tonight, I'm on FordPartsNetwork now (FordParts.com) and have the following 2 items in my cart,

Auto Trans Valve Body Plate
Part #: 7Z490
Pack Qty: 1

Auto Trans Valve Body Pressure Relief Valve
Part #: 7M203
Pack Qty: 1

If I am missing something please let me know, I am going to be checking this thread, and the TSB 3 more times over the next several hours before I click the purchase button.

I am 80% doubting myself that I have everything, I know I'm missing something here.

Also, this thread will contain none to minimal pictures as for 1. My phone is new and shiny I do not want to wreck it with grease or anything, but I have a feeling when I get into the valve body I will have a lot of questions.

So far in this thread I have 2 questions...

1. Do I have everything I need?
2. Can I roll the transmission over so the pan is facing upwards towards me while I work on it and take the valve body out, OR should I mount it on a engine stand/hoist and work on it from underneath? (I fear something may fall out and lodge itself somewhere it's not supposed to be.

Thanks in advance, and bear with me as I am only 19 years old and this is my first transmission, but My dad is helping me and he has done transmissions, but not in a very long time, he's done 70's and 80's auto transmissions in Fords and Chevys ( Mostly Chevys)

Again, Thank you.
 



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Get the Superior and the TransGo valve body kits. I did when I rebuilt my A4LD VB and no complaints.

I would remove the VB (less likely to lose any little balls etc.), then mount the transmission on an engine rebuild stand. Have a look at Glacier's A4LD rebuild for how to do it. Works sweet!

Also check out Sonnex for any improvement part you can get and install. I did a new boost valve, end plugs (w/o rings), etc. good stuff. If I were in your place I would replace the EPC valve as they can cause a great deal of trouble and in the long run you will much rather do it right the first time. I would replace the torque converter personally, it has all the contaminants from your fried tranny in it and will pump it back into your newly rebuilt one. Do not forget to flush the tranny cooler lines for the same reason. There is a special cleaner/flush available. Some people do not bother then wonder why they have problems later on.

This concludes my limited knowledge of the 5R55, oh, PM me your email and I will send you the pdf of the 5R55 series ATSG manual. Very informative...
 






Yeah, I would love that manual!

I know the TransGo and Superior kits require you to drill a hole in the VB or Seperator plate, and I know if I tell my dad that he will flip out yelling at me. lol. So I figured the Ford kit would just be less stress and less yelling in the garage.

I do plan on the EPC solenoid, just forget that in the first post.

This is the correct boost valve I'm assuming, it looks just like the one from Glacier's thread.

http://www.sonnax.com/product-lines/transmission/parts/1507
 






And get a new front seal for your bell-housing. And check the seal on the pump stator.
As for question #2, you can roll the transmission around a bit, just be careful with the external sensors and stuff like that. Nothing will fall out.
 






And get a new front seal for your bell-housing. And check the seal on the pump stator.
As for question #2, you can roll the transmission around a bit, just be careful with the external sensors and stuff like that. Nothing will fall out.

Excellent information and tips, all noted.

Thank you drdoom.
 


















Manual sent. I can tell you from experience doing my VB that the shift kit made it shift cleaner with less overlap. It generates less heat in the tranny due to the more efficient way it operates and therefore will last longer. The different sized holes work with the design of the shift kits. Those guys know what they are doing, I trust them.
 






Get the Superior and the TransGo valve body kits. I did when I rebuilt my A4LD VB and no complaints.

I would remove the VB (less likely to lose any little balls etc.), then mount the transmission on an engine rebuild stand. Have a look at Glacier's A4LD rebuild for how to do it. Works sweet!

Also check out Sonnex for any improvement part you can get and install. I did a new boost valve, end plugs (w/o rings), etc. good stuff. If I were in your place I would replace the EPC valve as they can cause a great deal of trouble and in the long run you will much rather do it right the first time. I would replace the torque converter personally, it has all the contaminants from your fried tranny in it and will pump it back into your newly rebuilt one. Do not forget to flush the tranny cooler lines for the same reason. There is a special cleaner/flush available. Some people do not bother then wonder why they have problems later on.

This concludes my limited knowledge of the 5R55, oh, PM me your email and I will send you the pdf of the 5R55 series ATSG manual. Very informative...
Can send me a copy too please
 






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