Torque Converter installation...
Torque Converter installation... I just wanted to get some opinions or what yall think. Do you think I would come out better if I installed my tc myself or pay to have it done? The cheapest place i have found wants $300. I know that its going to be APITA! But would it even be worth doing it myself?
Originally Posted by Gen3Benz
If you have access to a lift, trans jack, and air tools. It's a walk through the park.
If you have jack stands, floor jack, and no air tools. Pay up.
If you have jack stands, floor jack, and no air tools. Pay up.
If its just the TC then plan on payin triple when you A4 goes out because no cooler. If your gonna dish out 300-500 bucks might as well buy all the tools youll need and consider it a learning experience... Hell, if you have friends maybe you can charge a small fee and make some money back..
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis
I did mine with jackstands and a floor jack. Wasnt too bad. Its just like old school. Its just takes time thats all. It wasnt hard. You get to know your car alot closer. Im glad i did it.Saved me 250 to buy my cam and springs 
TECH Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
i could see 300 for tc/transgo/transcooler/fluids and some tuning. i'd ditch the hpp3 stuff and use the transgo instead. Transcooler is defo must after having my tci ssf 3500 in i understand why the damn thing runs hot, you're cruising between 2000-3000 at any city speeds all the time.
Trending Topics
The $300 is for the TC ONLY!!! Then they want extra for the trans. fluid! *** THAT!! I have the trans cooler but i figured I could do that myself. Ill probably just do it myself, I shouldnt be that much to have the exhaust welded back together. Thanks for all the input.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Yep! I've done alot of reading and there seems to be alot of people spryaing with the SSF3500. I also talked to TCI they thought it would be fine. Also I dont spray through the shifts, but it does what you said I guess I'll have to keep they spary Short & Sweet.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
I did mine with hand tools, a small floor jack and jack stands, its really not that hard to do, just get a friend or two to help you steady the tranny when you drop it on the floor jack to put the converter in. The tranny cooler isnt hard either
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From: WESLACO, TEXAS
Do it yourself! there is a write up also on the internet that will walk you through it. I believe it's under modernmusclecar.net or something like that do a search on it
Last edited by LS1INSIDE; Jan 23, 2004 at 11:15 AM.
Personally im glad i paid the $175 to have mine done...i did the shift kit and cooler myself though, but i had allen head bolts on my flywheel and the first one stripped out when he was doing it...had to use an air chisel to get it out...come to find out that bolt on the flywheel was too small thats why he had a hard time getting it out and had to air grind the hole out a bit to get the new bolt to fit...also he didnt drop the ypipe...thank god because when i did my header install by myself as well btw all 6 bolts connecting the ypipe sheared right off...made it easy to do my exhaust but wouldve been major trouble if i tried dropping my ypipe during the TC install...if it were up to me again i wouldve again taken it to get done but thats me.
lata
Bill
lata
Bill
D(irecto)r Pepper
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 0
From: Houston Raceway Park...in TEXAS.
Do it your self.
It is not hard and only takes a few hours. Plus you get to learn a lot about your car when you do the wrenching on your car.
Save the money... ask some questions and do it your self.
eazzie-peezie.
It is not hard and only takes a few hours. Plus you get to learn a lot about your car when you do the wrenching on your car.
Save the money... ask some questions and do it your self.
eazzie-peezie.
Originally Posted by foff667
i did the shift kit and cooler myself though, but i had allen head bolts on my flywheel and the first one stripped out when he was doing it.
hazat allen sockets are the best, to hell with mac/snap on in that dept.
it was only the first one...like i said the hole in the flywheel was machined small from the factory...he had to open it up even to fit the new TC bolt into it...not his fault machined wrong made right 
knowing your car will come from the tc install, but I paid a guy with a lift 250 to swap it and install a B+M cooler. It was worth it cause he didn't use any rubber hoses plus on the lift I got to "know my car" pretty well without swearing at it. Depends on what you want - the 250 or a painless/clean install. My time is valuable to me so I paid the man. Also, now HE is intimate with my car which will help when HE installs my headers
I agree that it would be very doable for someone with the car high on jack stands with long extension and swivels.
I agree that it would be very doable for someone with the car high on jack stands with long extension and swivels.
Im going to do it myself, Sat. 
