Baum Tools are sending me a replacement locating pin at cost. They are cool to deal with!

I got the sub-chassis/steering rack cleaned up last night. I'll "detail" it tonight and take a few pics. It looks much nicer now. I didn't realize the rack was a grey/brown color since everything was black oil color before. lol

I was thinking more of the 6" woofers in the front doors.

Ah yes, the front doors. Yes, I do plan to widen the holes a little to accept a standard size driver.

So on the transmission, I spoke to "Certified Transmission" who seem to have a good rep from what I can tell. So they would do the following:

• Replace all "soft parts" (clutches, seals, etc)
• Inspect all hard parts and re-machine any worn parts
• Apply any OEM updates
• Re-manufacture torque converter
• Balance converter and dyno test transmission/converter

Comes with 3 year/75k warranty.

They don't stock the 5HP-24 for the 4.6is (only the 4.4), so I would have to send them mine to rebuilt vs. paying a core and getting one they already did. I would probably prefer that anyway.

So that is the good news. The bad news is the price is $3299, which is 1/3 what I paid for the entire truck before I started replacing stuff. Not sure if that is really worth it for the piece of mind of getting a warranty vs. attempting the rebuild myself.

Looking at the California Transmission Supply Company website, it looks like I would need the following:

Overhaul Kit 5HP24 $154.38
Steel Kit 5HP34 $195.86
Fiber Clutch Kit 5HP24 $175.22

So a total of about $525 vs. $3299 and I supply the labor and no freight cost either.

I haven't rebuilt an automatic transmission before, but have done just about everything else. So how hard are these to tear down and put back together?

Any special tools that I need?

I believe there's a book available specifically on how to rebuilt these transmissions. I'll see if I can find a link. So if I get this book and any needed tools, and take my time and stay organized, do you think I'd be able to pull it off?

Auto transmissions are tricky. Many mechanics that don't specialize won't work on them for good reason. I'd let a pro do it and sleep tight knowing it is their azz on the line.

My 2 cents.

You can rebuild an automatic following a good manual. Slow and steady. You need to be very methodical, and have a place to lay everything out. Everything has to be very clean. There are occasionally special tools required for some seals, clips, etc but nothing extreme.

You won't necessarily be able to update software, you won't be able to test it until you reinstall it, and you will have to send the torque converter out for rebuild. But if you like working on nicely engineered parts, and have the time, consider doing it. I enjoyed it. But I never made close to the flat rate times.

Found this thread on the 5HP24 which has a lot of great info:

ZF 5HP24 teardown

You also used to be a tech?

Independent garage. Worked there until after engineering school. Many years ago. The shop owner was an old school mechanic who would tackle any job, foreign or domestic, so we had a wide variety of work.

JCL, you mentioned sending out the converter to be rebuilt. So they are rebuildable? I seem to recall reading somewhere that they couldn't be rebuilt, maybe it was the guy from California Transmissions when I spoke to him a while back. I'll check with the guy I spoke to today about the price of doing the whole thing what the cost would be for just the converter.

I think I'm going to take on the challenge. I'll prep a nice clean work area before I get started.

So here's the sub-frame and steering rack after getting all cleaned up.

http://www.cstone.net/~dk/x5_3_21_01.JPG

Here's a close up of the motor mount. Looks in real good shape to be and is very solid to the touch.

http://www.cstone.net/~dk/x5_3_21_02.JPG

I popped one of them out, and they appear to have been made in 2006. No idea when they were actually installed.

http://www.cstone.net/~dk/x5_3_21_03.JPG

Here's one of the bushings. Looks like I can still see a little of the paper label that was on it when installed. So I would think recently replaced? I do see a bit of a crack in the rubber, but perhaps that's pretty normal?

http://www.cstone.net/~dk/x5_3_21_04.JPG

Converters can technically be rebuilt, but if no supplier is willing to do so you can get a reman. I don't know specifically about your converter. A reman is generally a rebuild with a different pricing model.