How long to install a converter on your own?
How long to install a converter on your own? I plan on doing the install myself (or with a few friends) instead of paying for it. If at least one of them was fairly knowledgable, how long should it take?
Oh yeah, and where's the best place to get some new decent tranny fluid and filter?
Oh yeah, and where's the best place to get some new decent tranny fluid and filter?
I used Valvoline ATF fluid from Advande Auto Parts and their filter kit (their filter didn't fit, bastards).
Lets see...
1 hour - Get stuff out of the way, drain trans, etc
1 hour - Loosening all the necessary bolt and parts
2 hours - Lowering trans, getting old converter out, installing new converter
2 hours - Bolting everything back up and refilling the trans
So 6 hours, and to be safe I always like to take my original estimate and multiply it by 50% to get actual time
so you're looking at 9 hours tops I'd say. It's really not a hard job, just have to take your time and dont get frustrated, not alot of room to work under there. It's a good days work, but if you've got an experienced friend that can help out you can have it done is under four hours. Its really not too bad though. Only one way the tranny will come out, only one way the converter will go in, and only one way the tranny will go back in the car.
Lets see...
1 hour - Get stuff out of the way, drain trans, etc
1 hour - Loosening all the necessary bolt and parts
2 hours - Lowering trans, getting old converter out, installing new converter
2 hours - Bolting everything back up and refilling the trans
So 6 hours, and to be safe I always like to take my original estimate and multiply it by 50% to get actual time
so you're looking at 9 hours tops I'd say. It's really not a hard job, just have to take your time and dont get frustrated, not alot of room to work under there. It's a good days work, but if you've got an experienced friend that can help out you can have it done is under four hours. Its really not too bad though. Only one way the tranny will come out, only one way the converter will go in, and only one way the tranny will go back in the car. It took the shop that did mine about 5 hrs. but the took the trans all the way out of the car and installed the cooler. I have put a converter in a C-4 in a mustang b/f in less than an hour but they are so much easier to work on than an f-body. This maybe b/c I've owned one since I was 18 up until I bought the Formy. I'm 31 now man I'm getting old.
If you are doing the Trans-go to it's 100x's easier to do the servo's with the trans out. Trust me I've done it both ways. The valve body on the other hand seemed easier under the car though. Maybe b/c I had done about 5 times w/i a week. Anyway good luck I hope all goes well so you can get to the track and post some numbers since my wife has GROUNDED
me for a while and our cars are set up about the same.
BTW what is AIM I have no clue. Thanks
If you are doing the Trans-go to it's 100x's easier to do the servo's with the trans out. Trust me I've done it both ways. The valve body on the other hand seemed easier under the car though. Maybe b/c I had done about 5 times w/i a week. Anyway good luck I hope all goes well so you can get to the track and post some numbers since my wife has GROUNDED
me for a while and our cars are set up about the same. BTW what is AIM I have no clue. Thanks
Last edited by exstanger; Aug 12, 2005 at 06:26 PM.
Trending Topics
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 236
From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
It cost me $200 to have mine installed and I consider it money well-spent ... make sure that the converter fully seats on the input shaft with three distinct clicks - or it will cost you a lot more than hiring a pro to install it.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
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
Originally Posted by exstanger
It took the shop that did mine about 5 hrs. but the took the trans all the way out of the car and installed the cooler. I have put a converter in a C-4 in a mustang b/f in less than an hour but they are so much easier to work on than an f-body. This maybe b/c I've owned one since I was 18 up until I bought the Formy. I'm 31 now man I'm getting old.
If you are doing the Trans-go to it's 100x's easier to do the servo's with the trans out. Trust me I've done it both ways. The valve body on the other hand seemed easier under the car though. Maybe b/c I had done about 5 times w/i a week. Anyway good luck I hope all goes well so you can get to the track and post some numbers since my wife has GROUNDED me for a while and our cars are set up about the same.
BTW what is AIM I have no clue. Thanks
If you are doing the Trans-go to it's 100x's easier to do the servo's with the trans out. Trust me I've done it both ways. The valve body on the other hand seemed easier under the car though. Maybe b/c I had done about 5 times w/i a week. Anyway good luck I hope all goes well so you can get to the track and post some numbers since my wife has GROUNDED
me for a while and our cars are set up about the same. BTW what is AIM I have no clue. Thanks
Oh, and AIM is AOL Instant Messenger. It's a program you can use to chat with people online.
By the way everyone, thank you for all of your help. I appreciate it to the fullest and hope that it takes me around the time you've told me. Not sure when I'll get it in, but hopefully it will be within a week or so.
its tight like a virgin under these damn cars. if u have the materials, i would suggest getting cinder blocks and making 2 long ramps out of them. then put wood on top of those. in the front of the cinder blocks put your ramps. this way u can drive the entire car up onto the ramps then onto the cinder blocks and have some decent clearence to work with.
Originally Posted by Scotty-Z
What the hell? Grounded? As in how?
Anyway good luck with the install it won't be to bad just take your time and remember to keep everything real CLEAN in the valve body and you won't have any problems.
The first time it took me 4 hours with a lift. After that it get's very easy. Just make sure that verter is fully seated when you put the tranny back in. DO NOT STAB THE TRANNY THEN BRING IT IN WITH THE BOLTS.
It should fully mate up just by pushing it on. I learned that the hard way.
It should fully mate up just by pushing it on. I learned that the hard way.
the first time sucks, but after that changing convertors get easier.. at least for me and one other buddy. Will be doing a yank 4200 tommorow night as a matter and fact, I will clock us just to see how long it takes..
I can do mine in 1 1/2 hours using a lift and tranny jack....you just need to get the right tools and extensions the very top bolt is the hardest ....but 4-6 hours on the drive way and your first time is about right.
Originally Posted by exstanger
Just curious how it's coming. How long did it take ya.
I really want to get it in, but I've been running around trying to get stuff ready for moving to college tomorrow. Damn school, it sucks in every way.Hopefully once I get school started on Monday, I can try to arrange to get it in the next weekend or so. I'm getting impatient because I really want this thing in!
Originally Posted by JustAnIlluzion
its tight like a virgin under these damn cars. if u have the materials, i would suggest getting cinder blocks and making 2 long ramps out of them. then put wood on top of those. in the front of the cinder blocks put your ramps. this way u can drive the entire car up onto the ramps then onto the cinder blocks and have some decent clearence to work with.
NEVER!!!! USE CINDER BLOCKS TO HOLD UP A CAR!!! Unless you have a deathwish or can bench press a 3800 pound car, then don`t use them. Cinder blocks are for concrete work and concrete work only. They are very brittle and will desinigrate under the weight of a car.
