Well, I drowned my automatic again. I was with a group doing a pre-run for next week's Big Dogs event and went through a mud hole that was deeper than it looked. Had shifting problems on the way home. It won't shift in the forward gears. It will go into park, reverse, neutral, and drive, but it's stuck in 1st and will not upshift into 2nd or 3rd. I took it straight to a Jiffy Lube for a complete fluid exchange - the old fluid was a nice light pink color. Still no shifting. When I got home, I replaced the filter which was full of mud. No improvement. So I pulled it out today and am wondering what my options are. I hate the thought of having it rebuilt again. If I do, I have to figure out how to water proof it. Or move to southern CA (it never rains there, right?).

Can anyone tell me if there's a better transmission than the TF999 that's bolt-on or nearly so? It would be going into a '00 TJ 4.0L. Is the TF727 a good swap? I'd need a new torque converter, right? TC adapter? What else?

I've never opened up a transmission before. How hard is it to rebuild one yourself? Are there manuals that walk you through the process?

If I decided to go with a 5-speed, I'd need a new flywheel, clutch, pedals, etc., right? What other issues would I have with that swap? Wiring? TC adapter?

Anyone ever used a Jasper rebuilt automatic? Any concerns?

I know - a lot of questions for one post. Thanks for any useful advice.

Mark

This was originally posted by LEVE on JU in response to the same question by me.

Vent relocation on a TF999
1. Remove the transmission.
2. Remove the Torque converter.
3. Plug the case vent behnind the TC.
4. Drill and thread a new vent hole in the top of the case. Thread to fit a hard break line.
6. Remove all filings.
7. Install new vent line using a preformed hard brake line coupled to flexable tubing.
8. Reinstall TC.
9. Rinstall Transmission

You're done.

HTH, I still haven't done it yet cause I am lazy. I will get it done someday though.

Phil

i did the same thing on the 'con. when mine was being rebuilt, they added an extended vent hose.

i looked into tranny upgrades at the time also, there didn't seem to be a big difference in the ones i found that were bolt on. other than you drowning it, what's wrong with your tranny that would make you want to upgrade?

Originally posted by Skitzo:
<STRONG>...other than you drowning it, what's wrong with your tranny that would make you want to upgrade?</STRONG>

Nothing - except that this is the second time in about 9 months. Pretty soon I'll have more money in transmissions than the Jeep cost me new. It's extremely difficult to avoid water crossings and mud here on the east coast. I can't afford to keep replacing trannies. If I can work out a way to fix the problem, I'm OK. But I thought the problem vent is inside the bell housing. Can that hole simply be plugged off? What can you plug it with?

Right now I'm thinking I'll buy a Jasper rebuilt. It's advertised for less than my last rebuild cost, and it has a better warranty than the Jeep came with.

yeah, it can be plugged - i didn't do mine - had the shop do it when it was rebuilt, so i can't help you there.

i looked at rebuilt trannies too, but after shipping, it came out to be about the same as what it cost me for a rebuild - plus, i saved the time it would've taken to drop a new tranny in.

if you drill that hole while the tranny is together itll leave aluminum shavings all in there.

do it durung a rebuild, I wrote an article on this years ago, here it is.
http://www.ifsja.org/tech/transmission/727vent.shtml