Anyone ever gone about doing this? Do you need any *special tools* for the job? Any feedback about doing this?

Search on Ebay. If I remember correctly, there'* something like an "ADTG" or something along them lines rebuild manual for those trannys. Get one of those...Get the special tools ya need. I think that manual is about $30 US.

Also get a "Master Rebuild Kit" for it that has everything down to the odds and ends parts.

Nobody here has ever attempted it, nor will they probably ever. It'* not worth it. You need too much experience and specialty tools. It'* more black magic than anything, when you consider the certified transmission shops that have trouble with FWD transaxles.

You really don't want to do this. I'd tear the whole car and engine to it'* smallest component and reassemble it before I'd mess with that.

Umm... there'* a reason you see a lot of guys that say "I built this entire car from the parts bin, But Jimmys' Shop did the tranny".

You guys make a big deal out of this. It'* not THAT big a deal to do it, but you have to be very careful. The biggest thing to worry about is the check ball locations, and the re-assembly of the clutch packs. Otherwise there'* not a lot to it. Take your time and be careful, and make sure you have vaseline. It'* a big help.

It gets difficult if you try to finish it even 10min faster than you're actually capable of. If you REALLY take your time just about anyone can technically do it. My buddy rebuilt his transmission a few weeks back. Never touched one before but he had a book, tools, and plenty of time.
I guess if http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...transparts.jpg looks right along your skill then have fun! Many wouldn't bother though.

Let'* put it this way.....there'* not much mechanically that I won't tackle. I've been wrenching on my own cars since 1984, and my families cars before that. Total rebuilds including transmissions.

I won't tackle a FWD transaxle. Ever.

Billybooo.. not everyone is like you. Some people are more ambitious than others. Alec is an extremely smart kid.. he knows what he'* talking about.

Lakeville: The transmission break down is also in the Factory Service Manual [FSM]. I'm pretty sure it'* the same as in that book you recommended. I've seen both, but only own an FSM. I don't see a difference.

The biggest problem you will run into, is removing the engine/trans. That scares me more than taking apart the tranny.. but that'* beacuse i'm only one guy, and a young, weak 15 year old at that. The 2nd biggest problem is having a large enough, sterilized area to actually disassembly everything in. It is extremely important everything be kept SPOTLESS. You don't want a piece of dirt ruining your hard work, now do you? Third biggest problem is getting QUALITY parts. Not sure where you'd go about getting them. JCWhitney has the rebuild kit for the TH-440-T4 [87-91 Transmission], but i'm not sure if I'd want that going into my transmission [no clue about it'* quality]. So just be aware of that too.

IMO, if you have all the necessary information [break downs, dis/assembly procedures], and are mechanically capable [probably a good way to proove this is if you aren't daunted by the pic Dr. Jay posed].

Also, the reason why Transmission shops have a low success rate on rebuilding FWD transmissions, is probably because they have HS dropouts working there. Or because their documentation is poor [like a Haynes Transmission rebuilding manual ]. Plus owning the car makes you more cautious, especially if you have the love and determination for that car to rebuild a FWD auto trans.


-justin

You nailed it. I have no ambition. And you are, obviously, more knowledgable and experienced with cars than me and jr's3800 combined, and NEITHER of us would ever attempt something like this. Nor would any of our Gearheads.

Get serious.

PLEASE tell me that you are kidding......i guarntee that you couldnt rebuild one (with success) with every shop maual at your disposal.....trust us its not a easy job...... it takes experience and lots of training, I have seen them being rebluilt, by dad would complain every time that he had to do one, and he is a GM/ASE certified