All Gearheads Report in!

[Wakeboy1337]

Alright as some of you know I drive a 93 Ford Taurus SHO(Automatic w/ 3.2 engine) I was going to make a thread for this when I was all done but I need some help right now. My Transmission differential blew up 3 weeks ago and I'm just about to drop the Tranny out of the car. Most bolts holding it in are out, Sub frame is out, Engine is supported by chains and straps, everything is ready. Just one thing left, well two... Two little tranny cooler lines will not come out for the life of me. Here is a pic of them.


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014456.jpg

I've tried Squeezing on the plastic pieces and pulling but no luck, I've also tried unscrewing the nuts on the housing there with a crescent wrench but I couldn't get them to budge.

Here are pictures of my progress so far.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014442.jpg
Engine support scructure set up.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014441.jpg
Drive Shafts Out
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014437.jpg
Close up before we added the second strap
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014445.jpg
SUB FRAME IS OUT!!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014452.jpg
Under engine, added a second strap because the driver's side of the engine was sagging.

If I cant get this thing out before 1 tomorrow it's going to have to sit until January 3rd :gonk:

[Rob Oplawar]

Hit it with a hammer.

No seriously, that's the best I can come up with- a rubber or wooden mallet perhaps. Something to jolt it loose? But note that I have no idea what I'm talking about.

[Cojafoji]

there's this stuff called Kroil, from Kano labs. soak a rag in it, and then wrap it around the bolt. for good measure, pour a little bit on top of the rag, and let it sit for like 24 hours.

also, those look like brass bolts, so you'll probably want to use a flare nut wrench.

[ThePlague]

WD 40

[Wakeboy1337]

Hit it with a hammer.

No seriously, that's the best I can come up with- a rubber or wooden mallet perhaps. Something to jolt it loose? But note that I have no idea what I'm talking about.
Not such a good idea, plus I dont think I have the room in there.


there's this stuff called Kroil, from Kano labs. soak a rag in it, and then wrap it around the bolt. for good measure, pour a little bit on top of the rag, and let it sit for like 24 hours.

also, those look like brass bolts, so you'll probably want to use a flare nut wrench. I dont really want to undo those nuts, I can't even see the threads to see if they are backwards threaded. If I break something I'm fucked.


WD 40
I use CRC 656. It's like WD-40 but soaks in better for me.

I'm done for the day, gotta get cleaned up for work. Maybe tomorrow :smith:

I'll check the thread in the morning.

[Kalub]

Liquid Wrench, wait an hour and come back with the crescent wrenches.

[Cojafoji]

I dont really want to undo those nuts, I can't even see the threads to see if they are backwards threaded. If I break something I'm fucked.

this is why god made haynes repair manuals...

[Kalub]

Liquid Wrench it, then come back with your crescent wrench and a cheater bar. They will break lose and stop being bastards once you scare them a bit.

[Wakeboy1337]

this is why god made haynes repair manuals...


Yeah it was a bitch for me to find a repair manual that covers a a SHO:saddowns:



Liquid Wrench it, then come back with your crescent wrench and a cheater bar. They will break lose and stop being bastards once you scare them a bit.


I'll try it again in the morning...

[SnaFuBAR]

Unless the SHO has a different transmission setup than a regular taurus (which i really doubt it does) you should pick up a chilton or hayne's manual. I have built a few cars, and from the looks of it, you may need a specialty tool to remove the lines. Transmission specific i have dealt with a 68 roadrunner, so, a few decades in gap. Good luck. At least it's not the topside of the motor of 95 altima. Fuck that car.

[Atty]

...and the reason you are doing this yourself, in your driveway, and not at a shop is?

I guess I'm spoiled becuase I have access to two auto shops and a variety of private shops with more tools than you'll ever need but really, you should get someone professional to take a look at that.

And for help: Look's almost like each side has to come undone for it to pull in either direction. You'll have to choose the most accessible side and work it from there. I'm pretty sure if you loosen the bolt on the left you can then pinch out or easily remove the lines or you could go to the other side and it should be similar.

That's just what I can think of from looking at it, personally I'd just blow torch the lines and re-weld them later with that car.

Edit: If any amount of heat is emitted in that area there is the very real possibility the threads have melted. Happened on a exhaust we were trying to drop but we did the whole torch and weld a tip later down the line trick. :X

[Kalub]

I would first and foremost consult google if you couldn't break them free. There has to be some sort of enthusiast forum out there somewhere. After that I would find a Haynes or Chilton guide. I prefer Haynes, but oh well.


Good luck

[Cojafoji]

...and the reason you are doing this yourself, in your driveway, and not at a shop is?

I guess I'm spoiled becuase I have access to two auto shops and a variety of private shops with more tools than you'll ever need but really, you should get someone professional to take a look at that.

And for help: Look's almost like each side has to come undone for it to pull in either direction. You'll have to choose the most accessible side and work it from there. I'm pretty sure if you loosen the bolt on the left you can then pinch out or easily remove the lines or you could go to the other side and it should be similar.

That's just what I can think of from looking at it, personally I'd just blow torch the lines and re-weld them later with that car.

Edit: If any amount of heat is emitted in that area there is the very real possibility the threads have melted. Happened on a exhaust we were trying to drop but we did the whole torch and weld a tip later down the line trick. :X
You are an incredibly lucky person. Shops aren't open around where I live for insurance reasons (two teenagers rented out some space one night, and decided that it'd be hilarious to lift the car, and see how fast they could get it to spin around. they both died LOL.)

[Matooba]

Im a Licensed 12 year Senior technician. How may I help you?
Push in on the lines first, then squeeze the 2 plastic tabs in and pull out while giving it a small jiggle. If you need any stuff on this car I am directly hooked to Ford Companys Mainframe. Let me know how you make out. P.S. The transmission lines should have enough fluid about the output orifice to provide plenty of lubricant.


Note: If Modacity wants to have a Tech Help thread, I will surely check in on it and provide information and diagrams as needed.

Example: (Here is your transmission removal from fords shop manual.) (http://cgimax.net/downloads/techfiles/93Taurus_Trans_Removal.rar)

[Kalub]

Yea, I'd just like to put out there, that no matter how hot an engine gets it's not hot enough to melt metal by any standard. However, rapid cooling and heating can "fuse"'' metal to some point and all you have to do is break it loose with some PB Blaster/LiquidWrench/WD-40/Parts Cleaner and then apply torque.


Put yer back into it boy...

Let's just say that even with by turbo taking off the exhaust manifold didn't take more than an hour. I ended up breaking some shit, but it wasn't anything I didn't plan on replacing in the first place.

[Kalub]

Im a Licensed 12 year Senior technician. How may I help you?
Push in on the lines first, then squeeze the 2 plastic tabs in and pull out while giving it a small giggle. If you need any stuff on this car I am directly hooked to Ford Companys Mainframe. Let me know how you make out. P.S. The transmission lines should have enough fluid about the output orifice to provide plenty of lubricant.


Nice.

[SnaFuBAR]

...and the reason you are doing this yourself, in your driveway, and not at a shop is?


and you need a shop for what? every car i've ever built has been in my own garage with only a modest tool set. i've done top to bottom engine and transmission rebuilds without taking it to the mopar garage i have access to.

[Bodzilla]

while thats very true snaf, it does make it a shitload easier having the much larger selection of tools and their very specific purposes.

for example a shifter may be able to be used as a wrench, but a wrench will always be far better to use.

[Kalub]

Shifter? Que? Aussie Nuts?



I've rebuilt the bottom end of my car, and I'm working on the top end with little more than a $70 tool set and some rent-a-tools. I don't even have a garage I just do it in my drive way.

[Wakeboy1337]

Im a Licensed 12 year Senior technician. How may I help you?
Push in on the lines first, then squeeze the 2 plastic tabs in and pull out while giving it a small jiggle. If you need any stuff on this car I am directly hooked to Ford Companys Mainframe. Let me know how you make out. P.S. The transmission lines should have enough fluid about the output orifice to provide plenty of lubricant.


Note: If Modacity wants to have a Tech Help thread, I will surely check in on it and provide information and diagrams as needed.

Example: (Here is your transmission removal from fords shop manual.) (http://cgimax.net/downloads/techfiles/93Taurus_Trans_Removal.rar)
FUCK YES I TOLD MY DAD THIS AND HE GOT IT!!!:iamafag::iamafag:

He is gonna send me some pics of it out and I'll upload them soon :D

[Atty]

and you need a shop for what? every car i've ever built has been in my own garage with only a modest tool set. i've done top to bottom engine and transmission rebuilds without taking it to the mopar garage i have access to.The main shop we use is the families boat dealer shop, where we work on all the warranty boats that come in and store the ones that we're shipping out. The others are through connections (friends, family, etc).

I live in a town full of incredibly rich people with no idea how to properly spend money, they have no use for anything they own, but they own it anyway.

It's also much nicer to have a shop to come to work on anything, I'd rather not work in the garage and run the risk of hurting the other cars parked in it, and plus have the extra space to keep parts and major tools (such as a full crane system and air compressors).

[Varmint260]

I've rebuilt the bottom end of my car, and I'm working on the top end with little more than a $70 tool set and some rent-a-tools. I don't even have a garage I just do it in my drive way.

I'm assuming your driveway is fairly level and stays dry most of the time? I don't like to work on vehicles in my driveway 'cause it's angled thirty degrees down towards the house.

I did replace the alternator in the van there, but the best part about that job is not needing to go underneath the vehicle at all. Replacing the spark plugs was another task entirely, lol. Have to go underneath to get at half of them...

I'm glad I now have a vehicle that doesn't have spark plugs. It is nice.

Wakeboy, is the transmission in your car one of those with the letters AXOD on the bottom of the oil pan? My buddy had a 89 Mercury station wagon, automatic with a V6, and it had one of those. He was looking at getting a replacement transmission before he ended up getting another car. I'm just curious, is all.

[Wakeboy1337]

Yes it is an AXOD-E. But it's and AXOD-E for a SHO. The SHO is a pain to get parts for when it comes to engine and tranny stuff. That's what set it apart from a normal taurus.

The pan actually is like this on the bottom


(FordLogo)
AXOD


SHO


About like that.

[Matooba]

I know its a long bump but I just wanted to add:

That's for any and every vehicle, not just Ford's. What ever your looking for.

[Wakeboy1337]

UPDATE:

Sorry it took so long to come back to this thread, the project has been at a standstill for 3 or 4 weeks. But I've come back with more pictures and work will resume tomorrow afternoon. :neckbeard:

Rear main seal has been replaced since the tranny was off and flywheel is back on and ready to go.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/DSCN4586.jpg

Shot of the tranny after it was finally out.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/DSCN4583.jpg

New Tranny came in this afternoon :downs:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014578.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014579.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014580.jpg

That's it for now. Going to hopefully slide this bad boy in after work tomorrow.

[Varmint260]

Looks pretty cool. I've never worked under anything with front-wheel drive to be honest; it's all a lot easier to visualize after seeing the transmission. Good luck with the installation!

[Kalub]

that tranny is fuckin huge O_O;

[Varmint260]

I don't see what's so huge about it; besides including a torque converter and the necessary gearing (I assume it's a set of gears between the converter and the transmission?). Look closely at the size of the bumper on the car in the pics, it makes the transmission look small.

Is yours an auto or manual, Kalub?

[Kalub]

All cars I've ever worked on, including my own, are standard.


Silly automatics.


Oh hey, I saw one of these SHO Taurus car things in a trailer park the other day... It looked borked to me.

[Varmint260]

Yeah, automatics always seem to be a lot bigger for the same size of car. My Astro's automatic was bigger than a standard I rebuilt that came out of a 5-ton moving van.

Got that car back on the road, Wakeboy?

[Wakeboy1337]

All cars I've ever worked on, including my own, are standard.


Silly automatics.


Oh hey, I saw one of these SHO Taurus car things in a trailer park the other day... It looked borked to me.

You sure that wasnt a regular taurus?
http://www.thewxpage.com/images/equipment/93taurus1.jpg


Here is a SHO of the same year.
http://old.culturegarage.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/800px-ford_taurus_sho_second-gen.jpg

If you see the front the biggest diffeence is the nicer headlights and one piece bumper on the SHO.

Back in 98 or 99 they stopped making the SHO and in 05 the stopped making the Taurus altogether, for 2010 when they brought back the Taurus the brought back the SHO with them :)
http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/1/f/1/10_sho_frtlt.jpg
:smugoff:


Yeah, automatics always seem to be a lot bigger for the same size of car. My Astro's automatic was bigger than a standard I rebuilt that came out of a 5-ton moving van.

Got that car back on the road, Wakeboy?

Not yet, been at work all day today, only got to work for like 3 hours on it. I did however get pics of what i did yesterday and today.

Yesterday:
Got the tranny in and subframe bolted back up.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014585.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014583.jpg

Getting some of the harnesses reconnected and a new radiator hose on
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014581.jpg

Also closed the hood for the first time in 6 weeks :)
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014588.jpg

Today: Bought a new strut.(the screw threads were smashed on the top of the old one and if I drove on it for another month or two it would have failed on me.:ohdear: So I got the new strut installed today and all of the suspension control arms are hooked back up to the subframe and the driveshafts are in.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014591.jpg
(The only pic I took today.)

Tomorrow I'm putting the brakes on, starter in, the cats back in, and filling up the tranny with fluid. Then doing a test start on the stands. I'll see how much more I'll put it together if I'm not dead tired tomorrow, and depending on my work hours at my job I should have it on the road monday afternoon.:neckbeard: If not then Wednesday at the latest. ( I hope) You guys have to understand this car had four owners before my family and it's got nuts and bolts mising and some pieces have the shit beat out of them.:smith:

[PopeAK49]

What parts do i need to make my car into a transformer?

[Varmint260]

Now you're making me feel bad; you're putting all this time into your ride and I in comparison am doing squat to mine, even though it could probably use a little work. Time to get out the wrenches!

[Kalub]

Yea it was legit, it said SHO in the rear bumper. It's the only way I even noticed.

[Cojafoji]

serious kudos wake, i only ever replace peripherals (alternators, radiators, exhaust system, rebuild carbs etc).

That is a hefty fucking job dude. I know exactly how you feel btw (missing screws and such), I once bought and flipped a used mercury which was built out of spare parts at a junk yard!

[Kalub]

Tranny swaps can be super fucking easy, or down right fucking retarded. I mean, if you have a lift, and a tranny jack you can just unbolt it and lower it down. If not, prepare yourself, cause it'll blow your nuts off.


However, AWD cars are the worst of all :(

[Varmint260]

Tranny swaps can be super fucking easy, or down right fucking retarded. I mean, if you have a lift, and a tranny jack you can just unbolt it and lower it down.

Much as I hope I never have to spend the money to replace my truck's transmission, I appreciate that I won't need to lift the truck much to get a tranny jack under and drop the tranny out. I love working on RWD-based 4WD systems; they seem so simple.


However, AWD cars are the worst of all :(

Ooh, I pity you. I've never worked on one, but I'm guessing there are a lot of components required to get power from a transverse-mounted engine/tranny to the rear wheels?

[Wakeboy1337]

Tranny swaps can be super fucking easy, or down right fucking retarded. I mean, if you have a lift, and a tranny jack you can just unbolt it and lower it down. If not, prepare yourself, cause it'll blow your nuts off.


However, AWD cars are the worst of all :(


Yeah I bet AWD fucking sucks, I dont have a tranny jack so getting the tranny jacked up level and lined up was impossible. What we did was have a hydraulic jack like you would see in nascar and two more jacks to tipp the tranny in the ways we need it it. on scissor jack from the car and one jack from the truck.

Anyway.....

BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN:neckbeard:

I've still got some issues to work out, such as an exhaust leak and and a couple of other small things.

Moving on to the pics from today.

Starter in, brakes on, fender liners in and wheels on. Preparing to put in the downpipe.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014599.jpg

This was our failsafe for when we were working on it for those who wondered.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014600.jpg

Right after I got her back on the ground again and right before the airbox was put back in.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/P1014601.jpg

I have a Video of the first startup when it was still on the jackstands, but my internet is acting up atm so it never lasts long enough to let me upload the video :maddowns:

Anyhow, questions comments, anything is nice to see and I'll hopefully have that video up soon even though it's nothing real special.


EDIT: Video in post (Scroll Down)

v7tutTWcnNQ
Smoke was from tranny oil all over the hot parts and it was louder then normal from running it with open headers. Basically we had it on jackstands without the wheels on and we were just running it through the gears making sure that everything was okay.

[Wakeboy1337]

I'm stuck now. The car is together and drivable It shifts through the gears fine and the tourqe converter locks up like it should, but I have no overdrive for some reason and I've been stumped for 2 days now. If I'm going 50mph and overdrive was working my engine would be going 2000 rpm. Instead it's at about 2800 rpm. However even though I have no overdrive I noticed that if I turn off overdrive with the overdrive toggle switch that my rpm goes up by about 100rpms. I don't know what else too do about this :(

[Horns]

Take it to an autozone and get the OBD-2 code it's spitting out. Look the code up online.

It might be something as simple as a bad solenoid or a messed up tranny computer.

[Wakeboy1337]

Sadly this car uses the OBD-I connector. The check engine light isnt on but ill dig around and find my dad's ancient scanner and the book of codes that goes with it.

[Horns]

:O That sucks. You could try to find a manual for the tranny/car online and read up. lol

That's assuming you havn't already :P

[Wakeboy1337]

I have. I've been reading a Tech manual on the tranny and it says it could be a bad solenoid. That bad because the get the cover off the tranny has to be out of the car :(

[Wakeboy1337]

FIXED THAT SHIT YO!

After about 16 hours of looking over every connection and taking the valve cover part way off I popped the overdrive servo cover off the tranny and I looked at an exploded view of it in my shop tech transmission overhaul book and I noticed that the "Cushion Spring" was on upside down.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/abc7896321045/SHO/overdriveservo.jpg
All that trouble over that little thing. :maddowns:

[Varmint260]

Congratulations! It's funny how badly things can go wrong over a small part that's either missing or incorrectly installed. The only part that worries me is when you reassemble something and find you have extra parts. Yikes!

So, there's no way to get the codes out of the Taurus without a scanner? In my Astro one terminal under the dash had to be grounded to get the check engine light to blink the codes, and in my buddy's Cadillac two buttons on the dashboard have to be held down to display the codes.

[Wakeboy1337]

I have two bolts left. :)

But that's because the bell housing of this transmission is different. The case is for a normal Taurus. Don't worry though, the guts are for the SHO. Oh and it has aftermarket clutches :D

[Varmint260]

The SHO variant of the transmission is stronger, then? That's good to hear since the transmission in my buddy's old Sable is toast. Slipping and banging through its gears all to hell. Then again, here in my little town, very few people spend any time looking after their cars.

[Wakeboy1337]

The SHO variant of the transmission is stronger, then? That's good to hear since the transmission in my buddy's old Sable is toast. Slipping and banging through its gears all to hell. Then again, here in my little town, very few people spend any time looking after their cars.

Sadly no the SHO version is just as weak just with different gearing in it.

The AXOD Tranny is a weak one. Something about the clutches just sucking and the fliud couldnt get pump thru it fast enough. If your buddy gets a rebuilt make sure its a 94 or up and that he has aftermarket clutches installed.

[Varmint260]

Nah, he upgraded. Got rid of the Sable and bought a used Cadillac Fleetwood. His brother just got ahold of a Ford Tempo around that year, though... same transmission I guess? EDIT: Never mind, looks like it has a cheaper 3-speed automatic. Wonderful.

[Kalub]

I love my mystery bolts. :)