Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Need some good tranny help. (a little long)

Okay, I'll make a long story short. I have a 98 SVT and I need a new transmission. I have a hole in the bottom of it and I was told by the local Ford dealer that it is not just the housing, something inside has screwed up and basically shot something through the casing. The car will not move, thus making be believe this theory. If I understand correctly, my car doesn't have any sort of safety mech. to where it won't engage the clutch when there is no fluid. Unless a car has some sort of mech. like the one described, it should actually move, even with no fluid inside. (No I'm not trying to drive it with no tranny fluid...) I've located a used tranny since I don't trust the locals to rebuild it. (I had it rebuilt at 30k by dealer due to bad synchros.) I have a few questions.

1. Is there anything I should be leary of with a used tranny from a wrecked car. Both trannies that I've located are from cars wrecked in rear; one with 30k out of non-SVT, one with 39k from SVT.

2. I'm going to put it in myself, with the help of my boss (fairly experienced). I'm not so much worried about our abilities, I just want to know if there are any particular seals, gaskets, misc. BS that I need to know about before I have this thing torn down and see "Oh damn, I need (insert part here) to make this job work..." I am ordering a copy of the service manual in about 30 min. so I will have that as a visual resource.

3. Is there anything else I need to know about concerning this job? I want to get it right the first time, but am trying to keep it as economical as possible. The dealer wants over $1,000 to do just labor.

Any help/advice is GREATLY appreciated. It does make me feel better inquiring to one of the most knowledgable communities online.

In response to Question #1. The MTX-75 was upgraded for the 2001 Cougar with numerous improvements including a beefed up differential I believe, so I would just get a brand new unit. No use doing this job again in 10 months when the used one dies on you.

Questions #2 & #3. The service manual probably has a part number for a seal kit, but I haven't looked at that part of the CD-ROM in a while. They're pretty good at stepping you through teardown/install. They call out any special Rotunda tools you'll need along the way, too.

I don't know about a MTX but have intimate knowledge of an ATX install. It is not as hard as you might think. It took me two days of work about 6 hours a day. I took a few breaks here and there so 12 hours is an over estimate. Just make sure you have all the fluids handy (i.e. ford mix and other fluids)

As far as a shop charging a grand...bullpoop. Amcoo wanted $600.00. I assume an auto is more work (extra cooling lines etc.)

Most of all get a good manual and have fun. When I finished, started up the car, and it actualy drove down the road I was thrilled. NOt onl did I save some money but I feel I "know" wy car better now.

I'm an ATX owner so I'm just going from memory, but I think some older MTX have shift linkage vs cables. Not sure if this will change the tranny any, but maybe something to look out for.

Thanks guys. Does anyone else have any help to give? Where's the love!