I am changing the engine in my 87 W-150 and while it is out I was planning on fixing a transmission leak which I thought was the torque convertor seal. When I removed the convertor I saw the leak appears to be coming from the base of the front pump. I know there is a O-ring around the pump body, my question is, is it possible to change the front pump seal and gasket while the transmission is still in the truck ? or am I just going to have to live with it until I decide to pull the transmission ?

Thx in Advance

 

IF YOU HAVE A CLEAN UNCLUTTERED oh sorry didn't mean to yell...
work space it east not a hard job to rebuild your trany especially if you already got the motor out.
if its a 727 all you need is the shop manual and a few pick and snap ring pliers some seal grease and your off
if it's a 518 46re/rh you need a shop press along with the aforementioned

this link can set you up with allot of stuff to help

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/highperflist.htm:)

 

Can you change the front pump gasket and o ring inside a vehicle with the engine out on a POWER RAM?

Yes you can but you have to keep the front input shaft held up with a hook and make sure everything is completely clean.

Chances are you might not have a 727 if its a 318 though they had this bright idea of putting lockup 904 transmissions into the power rams in those years.

Either way the only reason it would leak around the pump is because some nimrod rebuilt the transmission and I would suggest getting it properly rebuilt by someone else NOW before you have more problems.

Most of the transmission leaks from the front I have seen are not from the pump or the seal itself but a cracked torque converter pump drive tube. Remove the torque converter and inspect it really closely it might have a hairline crack in it. They can be rebuilt by a qualified shop. If the tube cracked it would take out the seal which can be replaced without removing the pump.

 

It is a 360 engine,
If I had the time and money, I would rather pull the transmission, but since I have no more money and little time, I might just have to live with it. I am all ready into the engine change for $1400. and that is with me doing all the labor.

 

You can change the seal yourself in the truck. I'd vacuum and clean the entire area around where you are working first though (degreaser on the fire wall and frame, brake clean on the tranny itself and wipe it down). Take your time doing it too, you don't want to have it leak again or worse than it already is. A slide hammer is a great tool to use on this as well and will help greatly in getting the pump out.

Since you have a 360, you'll probably have a 727 as the A518 didn't come out till the late 89/early 90 models. The 904s did back up the 360 in some vehicles, but just about all of them were smaller and lighter than the 4x4 trucks. I've never heard about a 4x4 904 version either (but doesn't mean they don't exist though).

 

If you pull the front pump check the pump bushing. A worn bushing can cause it to leak also.. replace Gasket, O ring, seal and bushing I like to use a brush on gasket sealer, put some on the pump gasket & large O ring. lower pump bolts as a thread sealer--- NO SILICON thread sealer also helps the pump slide in.. Just put all the bolts in loose before trying to seat the pump..
I have an old axle and a length of chain I attach to the front pump.. Look for the threaded holes one or two whacks and out it comes