Is this trans salvageable?

[BlueKitsune]

I'm hoping I can salvage this trans as I don't really feel like dumping $1500 on a reman one but lets see what you guys think.

5R55E the previous owner said he had a friend replaced the transmission that came from a newer explorer. So I'm not 100% sure its a 55E but the valve body looks right.

Anyways, Drive is extremely slow to engage, taking between 4 seconds up to a full minute. Tho now it never engages. And on start up you can hear what sounds like a hydraulic whine coming from the transmission for a minute or two.

Reverse still works perfectly

When I was able to get into drive I only seemed to have 1st 2nd and 3rd gears. Turning O/D on or off never made a change and after a short drive the O/D light would start to blink.

Fluid has gone from clean and new to burnt in a little over a month. level never went down.

I just pulled the pan off the transmission and removed the valve body, no blown gaskets and it looks like the TSB was already taken care of. but it seems like its full of sludge?

Thats where I'm at right now. Think I might be able to clean up the valve body and do a full trans flush or is it just toast.

 

[BlueKitsune]

The lack of replies doesn't give me to high a hopes for that trans lol

Guess I'll just go ahead and try rebuilding the valve body, if that doesn't fix it at least I'm half way there to just rebuilding it.

 

[adsm08]

I would just get it rebuilt or get a reman unit in there at that point.

It sounds like the clutches are worn to where they won't engage properly anymore.

 

[BlueKitsune]

Thats kind of what I was thinking. Oh well Maybe I'll just try to rebuild it myself.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Be sure and change the spragues if you rebuild it yourself and any other hard parts.

 

[adsm08]

My personal recommendation is a Ford reman. We try to sell them over rebuilding them in house at my shop. The reason being that between parts and labor the cost to rebuild vs replace with a Ford reman is very similar, usually only a few hundred dollars or less different, but the reman gets a better warranty. 3-36 nationwide vs 12 month 12,000 at our shop only.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/5R55N.html
You need to take it apart to see if it needs any major hard parts the overdrive sprag is probably shot (one way clutch)
Get a manual and if it dont look right it aint.
http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/5R55N.html

 

[BlueKitsune]

Sweet thanks for all the sources!

I originally got a quote from the local ford dealership that it was going to be approx. $3K for them to swap out the transmission and cooler assembly.

But its not my daily driver and with it having a rebuilt title and tweaked cab Im not sure it was work it at that price! Maybe I should get into a local shop installing a Jasper reman.

 

[BlueKitsune]

So I finally got around to taking the valve body apart to rebuild it and I found I'm missing one of the two checkvalve / piston things! So now I need to figure out where everything should be and where/if I can order that missing check valve...

And no I didnt turn it over of lift the plate of too fast, it just was missing...

 

[Dune Runner]

Back when I was having valve body issues I ordered a rebuilt one with all the upgrades from these guys. http://www.centralvalvebodies.com/ Though from what you have been posting it sounds like there is more going on then the valve body. If it were me I'd be looking at a good used unit if the truck is not going to be a long term keeper.

 

[BlueKitsune]

I was thinking of restoring it for fun, But there is a ton of signs the poor thing as been T-boned at some point in its life.

Either way If I decide to order a rebuilt VB I'm just gonna pull the trigger on the entire trans honestly. I'm just hoping some dumb luck might have it back on the road for awhile lol