Thursday, June 15, 2017

How to Replace a Transmission Pan Gasket


how to replace a transmission pan gasket ford torino 500 1971 torino time diy c4














This is going to be another post regarding Torino Time and my 1971 Ford Torino 500, but this will be a little different. Most of the time, I just tell you what I’m doing. Well, here is a how to! The leak on my transmission pan was getting pretty bad, so I decided that it was time to replace it. 

This car has a standard Ford C4 transmission, but the basic principles of this apply to most transmissions. It’s pretty straight forward, and you don’t need much experience to do it. However, I would always recommend taking your car to a mechanic if you feel uncomfortable.  There is a video at the end of this article, in the event you would like a more comedic version of this.

What You Need
  • Jack stands or lift
  • Drip pan 
  • Ratchet
  • Deep sockets – 1/2”, 5/16”, and 7/16” 
  • Flathead screwdriver 
  • Your new gasket (and filter, if your kit came with one) 
  • Brakleen (for cleaning the pan) 
Step 1 – Lift the car
I would always suggest a lift if you have access to one. If you don’t, use jack stands. You shouldn’t work under a car that is supported by just jack stands, but if it’s your only option, make sure they are on level and solid ground. 

Step 2 – Remove the bolts and drain the fluid
The C4 does not have a drain plug, so the fluid will start to leak once you loosen the bolts. Use your 1/2" socket to remove the side, front, and back bolts. Leave the corner ones for last. Remove your rear corner bolts, and loosen the front ones. Your pan will begin to hang, and fluid will start dripping out, so have your drip pan ready! If you use a screwdriver to assist in the tilting of the pan, be very careful! You don’t want to bend the edges of the pan. After the fluid stops pouring out, remove the front two bolts. Hold the bottom of the pan so it doesn’t fall.

how to replace a transmission pan gasket ford torino 500 1971 torino time diy c4

how to replace a transmission pan gasket ford torino 500 1971 torino time diy c4

how to replace a transmission pan gasket ford torino 500 1971 torino time diy c4

Step 3 – Clean the pan
While the rest of the fluid drips out, take this time to clean the pan. Peel or scrape off the old gasket. Spray and wipe the pan down with Brakleen, or a cleaner of your choice. Make sure none of the old gasket is left behind on the pan. You may need to scrape some off with a razor blade. You need a clean surface with none of the old gasket left to assure a good seal.

Step 4 – Remove the old filter (if you have a new one)
Get back under the car! Take your 5/16” socket and remove the bolts for the filter. The last one is toward the front, and that is 7/16”. There is a spring with a guide rod on the driver side of the filter. It will want to pop out. Be careful not to lose it. Inspect the filter for any metal fragments or anything out the ordinary.  

Step 5 – Reinstallation
Now it’s time to put everything back. First, inspect the seal areas one last time to make sure they are clean. Next, install your new filter. Finger tighten the bolts. Use your ratchet to finish the job. Tighten them down in a star pattern: left side, then right, then front, then back, and repeat. Don’t over tighten the bolts! Just get them tight enough. After that, do the same thing with you pan and new gasket.


Step 6 – Top off fluids
After you are done, top off your transmission with fresh fluid. Make sure it is the right fluid for your car. For a 1971 Ford C4, I used type F fluid. You may need to let your vehicle get up to operating temperature and recheck your levels to make sure they are still good. 

It’s actually a pretty easy thing to do. Just have the right tools, a little bit of confidence, and you can get it done! There is so much more that I have to do to my 1971 Ford Torino 500, so if you want to follow the journey, check out the series on this blog, or check out our YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, and be sure to follow us on Twitter for some exclusive content and updates about what will be happening to this car next! Thanks for stopping by.

Friday, June 9, 2017

Most Badass Body Shop in Orlando

winter park paint and collision dan jones hotrod body shop orlando














If you have a car, there will be a time that you need body work done to it. Maybe you got into an accident, maybe you need something color matched, or maybe you just want a whole new style. There are plenty of places that you can go, but if you're in central Florida, there is only one place: Winter Park Paint and Collision in Winter Park, Florida. 

Winter Park Paint and Collision is a shop that I took my car to most recently when I had an unfortunate accident. I’ll give you the quick version: the guys were great, and so was the service. I suppose I will get into the long version. 

Right from the start, I knew this place would be good. They had some nice classic cars and high-end cars that they were doing work on. I knew I wouldn’t be turned away or anything though, because they were also working on cheap cars. The shop looked like a real shop: tools and parts here and there. When I got my car back, it was as good as new. 

Just to give you a quick example of how awesome they are, let me explain the paint. I have taken my car to shops before to get body work done. This included a Ford dealer (I drive a Mustang). Winter Park Paint and Collision mixes all of their paint in house, and they matched the paint of my car better than the Ford dealer did. 

I had the pleasure of chatting with the owner, a real straight-to-the-point man name Dan Jones. He was very easy to get along with, and didn’t mess around. This is an art to him, and he takes it very seriously. So does his team. 

“We have a great team. They are very passionate about what they do, and it shows in the quality of their work,” he said to me. 

They just recently moved into the current location that they are in. The shop is medium sized. They currently have one paint booth and two lifts. Jones was telling me that they plan to purchase the whole building that the shop is in, and expand. 

So, what do these guys do? Don’t go to them for an oil change, but if you need paint and body work, these guys are for you. They do work for insurance companies, dealers, specialty shops, and of course the average Joe.  

Safari Heritage Parts in Orlando deals with custom Land Rovers. They use Winter Park Paint and Collision for all of their bodywork. That is just one of the companies that makes use of this top-notch body shop. 

What it comes down to is that there are plenty of shops to choose, but if you want a shop that is the best, then Winter Park Paint and Collision is the way to go. Stop by and tell them The Random Automotive sent you! 

Winter Park Paint and Collision
3413 N. Forsyth Road Suite A
 Winter Park, Florida
407-636-7367 

winter park paint and collision dan jones hotrod body shop orlando

winter park paint and collision dan jones hotrod body shop orlando

winter park paint and collision dan jones hotrod body shop orlando

winter park paint and collision dan jones hotrod body shop orlando

winter park paint and collision dan jones hotrod body shop orlando

Want to learn about more shops like this? Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter!

Share

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More