got tranny never done this before but rather mechanically inclined . just looking for some good direction mabey links to help
I did this job on our '96, 4.0L OHV engine, 4R55- transmission. One point I recall very vividly was that
access to the torque converter studs which enter the flywheel "flexplate" was limited to ONLY the opening for the starter motor. So, only one nut could be worked at a time-- definitely a new one for me. No access cover on the bottom front of the converter housing, like I had been used to for years earlier. The heat shield above the trans., rivetted somehow to the floorpan, interfered with the top of the converter housing when pulling the trans. back to clear engine, before lowering it downward. If I recall properly, I CUT a bit of the shield away.....
Other than those 2 points, it was fairly straightforward. The trans. had stopped working almost entirely, not just one simple "symptom" like slippage, or shifting problems. I tore it down, and found
several thrust bearings which separated internal parts had disintegrated, which I believe allowed mis-match of ports (holes) in shafts, which fed pressure to clutches.
I replaced it with a rebuild bought from Ford, knowing their rebuilding is certifiably reliable, though O'Reilly's quoted a similar price-- $2,000. imp
