I did the install myself and if I were to do it over again it could be done much quicker. Some things that held me up were transmission jack I wasn't sure if it would hold so we were overly cautious removing the trans and blocking it up etc to make sure it wouldn't fall. Now that I know my equipment is up to the task it would save me approx 1 hour on the removal.
Next was getting it off the jack well my hoist doesn't go up high enough to clear the trans in the full down position on the jack so I had to pull a torsion bar next time I would use the spacers to lift my truck up that extra 4" I needed to get the trans out from under the truck. That probably cost me 30 mins screwing around and just finally pulled the torsion bar.
Next was transfering the trans from the jack to the engine stand with the adaptor plate, I called mike just to double check what to do and waited about 15 mins ish for a call back to learn to use a chain and cherry picker to move it from the trans jack to the cherry picker to the engine stand.
Next was building it taking my time, when we removed the trans the truck was in park,so we tore the back end apart and did the clutches no problem, then we put it back togeather and as per mike it should turn easily but every time we pulled it down on the springs it locked solid wtf right, well it turns out it took us a few pull aparts to realize it was the parking pawl catching because the trans was in park DOH! Flipped the selector on the side of the trans to neutral and we were in business. Approx 2 hour screwing around here
Next we flipped the trans over and I pulled it apart the bell housing , pump then the planets and the c3 clutch well I pulled too many plantes out and pulled the lower planet out hooked to the C4 clutches. So we could not get it to mesh and I didn't realize it seperated to put the planet spacer in so... we had to build a fixture to hold the planet it, then I had to disassemble the rear section again to remesh all the clutches with the planet. Then rebuild the rear then put the C3's in and get the snap ring on we could not get the ring on because we could not get the planet all the way down because I pulled it out and could not get it to re mesh with all the clutches. Lesson learned and lost a good 2 hours here. The rest was easy and we had no troubles building the trans.
Next we breezed through the re install because we knew our equipment was up to the task of supporting it and we had the procedure down to transfer the trans from the engine stand to the cherry picker to the transmission jack.
Then came the tq converter bolts the damn plate when we put them all in was keeping one of the bolts from starting it was just invading the hole sightly but enough to keep the damn bolt from starting, so we messed around for a while and loosened all the bolts off and wigged and screwed around and screwed around and dropped a tq converter bolt, had to fish it out with a magnet I had LUCKILY! Finally got the bolt started and then proceeded to tighten all bolts. This was 11 pm saturday night and I was done but HAD to finish that or I would not have slept that night.
The rest was simple started in the morning popped the starter back in exhaust on inner fender and flare, then filled the transfer case, installed 8 quarts of oil in the trans and started her up idled and proceeed to top up to the correct fill level.
All in all it was alot of work I could probaby do it in a long day again if I were to do it over again now that I know what to do and what to look for, it was frustrating to get into the rear so many times but we finally got it right and it was sweet success on the first start up when it went through all the gears on the hoist etc.
IMO though if you get the kit and the clutch clearance isn't right etc you are screwed what are you going to do its not like a guy in his garage has extra steels to adjust clearance etc, so I got everything from Mike because I knew he pre assembled the clutch packs to fit properly etc.. That is HUGE when you just want to put it in.
Things you need IMO ofcourse
Hoist
Trans jack
Cherry picker or overhead chain hoist or something to lift the trans off the jack and onto the engine stand
Engine stand and adaptor plate
coupler screw drivers and basic hand tools and a couple picks is about all you need to build the trans
we used a big C clamp to get the spring compressed on the main pressure vavle with a bolt and washer
Clean working area and good work bench to set all the clutches and parts on.
Torque wrench
Other than that nothing to major an impact gun and about 3' worth of extensions helps. I didn't really use too many special tools it went togeather rather easily once we got it all figured out.
One last note Do not attempt this without a friend, its also a really good idea to take pics of the bearings etc and which way they are oriented when you take the thing apart it becomes really easy to forget which way some stuff goes if you get messed up and the book pictures aren't always the best. Espeically in my case when I scrwed up and had more laying on the bench then I bargained for and had to really pay attention.
Other than that enjoy the build and the rewards of the built trans, it feels great like all the power is finally going to the road and you are really pushing forward rapildy, the firm feel of everyting is awesome it just loads the motor and makes it pull forever.
