Transmission swap

[scott schmerge]

Anyone do a transmission swap on their LR4 yet? I’m building courage to do it myself. I’m done throwing parts at this thing and found a used low mileage trans for a good price.

If you’ve done one, any advice, things to watch out for? I’m rather capable, just have never done a transmission before.

As far as I can tell, it seems pretty straightforward:

Disconnect Battery and drain transmission fluid.

1. Remove exhaust
2. Remove driveshaft and propshaft
3. Support trans and transfer case and remove crossmember
3. Remove transfer case
4. Remove starter
5. Remove bolts from torque converter through access hole above starter.
6. Remove transmission bolts and transmission (use transmission jack)
7. Reverse procedure

Also, would welcome input on job time. Any special tools required? Also, stupid question I know, but how do I turn crank to get access to torque converter bolts?

If you’ve done this job, would you opt to do it again or would you pay someone? I kind of like the challenge, but don’t want to be stupid about it.

 

[mbw]

You mentioned that you had done the pan swap and had some issues with some other seals. Did that cause some damage? Is that why you want to do a swap?

 

[ryanjl]

You mentioned that you had done the pan swap and had some issues with some other seals. Did that cause some damage? Is that why you want to do a swap?

Not to answer for him, but what he did service-wise didn't cause any damage.

https://www.landroverworld.org/threads/transmission-valve-body.40054/

 

[scott schmerge]

You mentioned that you had done the pan swap and had some issues with some other seals. Did that cause some damage? Is that why you want to do a swap?

Nope. Bought the truck with a torque converter shudder. Was hoping all it needed was fresh fluids, seals, etc. it was too far gone by that point though. Went 115k with original fluid in it.

It’s been limping along with dr trannys shudder fix and a couple of fluid changes. Had it professionally diagnosed and he felt confident it was just a software reflash and adaptations clear to fix. That wasn’t it. He then said it could be the torque converter or failure of some of clutch packs. All gears shift smooth as silk, just torque converter lockup is funny. Rather than putting a torque converter in, I found a transmission (for about the same price as torque converter) with 67k on it.

It’s virtually the same job for the torque converter as it is to swap the transmission, so it makes sense to me.

 

[mbw]

Awesome. Good luck with the job and thanks for the advise on the pan swap. I'm going to do that Saturday along with a coolant drain/vacuum fill and replacing my batteries. Just got done with both diffs, transfer case, air filters also. I have almost 70k on my transmission so that service is overdue, but I haven't noticed issues with mine yet. I did tow a large boat for a few years. Hope I didn't do any damage to it yet. Lockup seems ok on mine, i never notice shudder.

 

[avslash]

I'm probably nutty, but I would take the old one and ship it on a pallet to a ZF rebuilder and store it for when I needed another one.

Of course I am also mulling buying a spare 5.0V8 to have around for whenever I need it.

Based on the current offerings from JLR, I plan to keep my LR4 for a long, long time.

 

[ryanjl]

Based on the current offerings from JLR, I plan to keep my LR4 for a long, long time.

Not to get this thread totally off the rails, but my options as I see them right now are:

1. Hope for the best with the new Defender.

2. Ride my LR4 till the wheels fall off.

3. G-Wagon

4. Just buy an old Defender. Probably not a NAS, but the 300 tdi versions have gotten old enough to be imported under the 25-year rule. One good thing about the NAS versions, though, is that they've generally been taken care of pretty damn well, to the point where there's not a real shortage of pristine examples if you are willing to pay.

 

[scott schmerge]

I'm probably nutty, but I would take the old one and ship it on a pallet to a ZF rebuilder and store it for when I needed another one.

Of course I am also mulling buying a spare 5.0V8 to have around for whenever I need it.

Based on the current offerings from JLR, I plan to keep my LR4 for a long, long time.

Definitely going to do something with it. I may just sell the valve body and recoup what I’m paying for the transmission! My valve body has new solenoids in it and is in good shape. Solenoids alone are $320 new.

Rebuild is not a bad idea for the box. Will need new torque converter.

I don’t anticipate getting rid of mine anytime soon either. Although I threaten her occasionally when she’s really bad.

 

[avslash]

I'm so far down the LR4 rabbit hole now that she could beat me badly enough to be charged with spousal abuse and I would come crawling back...

I flat out don't want to start over with a new truck given all the mods I have done to the 4.

I'm 47. If I end up buying a spare engine, I guess I will plan to die with her.

 

[avslash]

Definitely going to do something with it. I may just sell the valve body and recoup what I’m paying for the transmission! My valve body has new solenoids in it and is in good shape. Solenoids alone are $320 new.

Rebuild is not a bad idea for the box. Will need new torque converter.

I don’t anticipate getting rid of mine anytime soon either. Although I threaten her occasionally when she’s really bad.

I wasn't aware until recently, but there are apparently aftermarket valve bodies available for these boxes as well.

I spoke to a very knowledgeable LR3 guy 2 weeks ago who was running one, and he was all smiles about it.

I'm sure they are not cheap, but I think the actual ZF units are pushing 3 grand, so they are likely somewhat less expensive.