How hard is Transmission replacement?

[2shus]

I bought a sweet burgendy 91 escort wagon for $200.00 and it purrs like a kitten. It also looks great and is rust free. But the automatic tranny will only pull in low gear and reverse. The previous owner is deaf and the seals had went bad and was leaking alot and before he noticed it the tranny was slipping pretty bad. I am considering swapping it out my self. Have done many RWD tranny's in the past. I have never done a FWD tranny before and my tranny swapping days may be over. Has anyone done one recently? How long does it really take if a guy hasn't done one before? Does it require a lot of speciality tools? Is their anyplace on the net that gives any instruction. I would appreciate any help and info, Thanks.

[quaddriver]

You need a lift and a lot of tools. you need t o be able to suspend the engine while the cradle is removed as the tranny comes out the bottom. It is not for the faint of heart.

[Snow93]

if i had the engine hoist/A-frame i would have done mine.. its about 4 hours work give or take, 8 in total.. gotta drop alot of stuff though... but as faar as a lift? na... 4 stands and a jack will suffice.. and tools are the basic mechanics set (wrenches and ratchets and a standard screwdriver)

[quaddriver]

the 4EAT weighs about 175lbs. You will therefore need a jack with adaptor to lower it. There are no jackstands that will put the car high enough to get clearance.

you need a lift.

[Jet-Lee]

a jackstand can keep the front of a car 2 feet off the ground...just make sure to chock the rear wheels...

[Snow93]

if you use 2 tonn stands you can get near 2.5 ft, as long as you run a 2 ton jack and not a 1.5-was goin to drop my tranny to do the rear main seal but like i said no engine hoist/a frame and im not goin to trust a 500 pound engine to a 4x4.

[quaddriver]

ya'll might wanna check your math just a weeeee bit.

Even my 6ton jackstands dont go that high. (which still does not take into account 5" for the low clearance professional floor jack, and an additional 4" for the tranny adaptor)

500lb engine? how did you get a v8 in there? must be one fast little car.

[Snow93]

lol my quad you in a grand mood... i couldonly wish it were a v-8 (byt he way my man... i pulled 500 pound 5 cylinder aluminum block and head) and i have the intentions of eventualy shoving one under the hood. BUT anyways.. theres differnt makes and modles of jacks. This one is about 10 yearsold, all steel ways round 80 pound and can lift a car 2.5 ft, as i have measured and done so. and the jack stands, when properly placed to extend to around that height. (im talken 2 wheels up here) 2 ft for 4 stands.

[Jet-Lee]

Originally Posted by quaddriver

ya'll might wanna check your math just a weeeee bit.

Even my 6ton jackstands dont go that high. (which still does not take into account 5" for the low clearance professional floor jack, and an additional 4" for the tranny adaptor)

500lb engine? how did you get a v8 in there? must be one fast little car.

You might wanna get new jackstands.....

I got 2.5 ton jackstand that do...