Need help with truck transmission 1992 / F-150 / 6cyl automatic

[Slugz]

Gents,

Need your comments and thoughts on this as I just don't know what to do.

We have a farm truck 92/f150/6cyl that is our main hunting truck for getting up and down the mountain 2-3 times a year. Recently the rear drive axel has departed ( left on I-25 somewhere) and it has been towed to my place. I'm guessing that maybe there was a U-joint issue (lack of maintenance) to cause this. I want to get this thing up and running but I don't know how best to go about it. I also suspect I need a new transmission in it also. So then question is....how do I go about this and not break the bank.

1) Do I take it to a local garage and ask to look it over and give an estimate

2) Do I take it to a transmission/drive train only place to look it over and give an estimate

3) Do I try and purchase the big pieces on my own then take it to one of the above to get it fixed

4) Some other better way to solve this

Pic below of her after she went into depot level maintenance after a run in with an angry momma cow one year. New hood and modern lights in the front now

Thanks

 

[JimP]

Do you mean that you lost the rear drive line that connects the transfer/transmission to the rear end?

If so I would just hit up the junk yards and see if you can find another drive line. Put some new U joints into here and see how it runs.

If the transmission was working alright before the mishap it should still be alright as long as the output shaft yokes are alright.

 

[mallardsx2]

So you lost the drive shaft? No big deal. Go get a new one from the junk yard. Put in the new drive shaft and keep on driving it. Get new universals obviously on your way back from the junk yard.

Those 300-6's last forever.

Nice looking truck.

 

[Timberstalker]

Sounds very simple. Lost rear u joint then drive shaft slipped out of the transfer case. If you know where it happened the driveshaft should still be on the shoulder of the road. Go get it, put a $20 u joint in it and giddy up.

 

[kidoggy]

don't know if you have any mechanical experience or not. sounds like not.

IF IT WERE ME and if it needs a tranny , and you wish to keep the truck, I would either have it rebuilt or get a new one and swap it myself. or you could get a junkyard tranny cheaper and trade truck off and get another.

while a bit of a pain, trannys are not that hard to swap, if you have the tools and time to do it. same goes for drive line.

obviously it will cost more if you go to a mechanic... so, it comes down to are you capable of doing it and if so, is convenience worth the mechanics bill ,to you.


question. is there a reason you think tranny is bad ? were you having issues with it prior to drive line failure?or are you just guessing bad tranny caused driveline failure?????


just judging from your post , option #2 may be best option.

some mechanics will charge more if you supply parts. they don't really like folks buying their own for a couple reasons .
1. most make a percentage off parts.
2. all to often folks supply the wrong part

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Good advice so far. U joints (do both of them, front & rear) and drive line. Check the tranny fluid. Pull the dip stick and smell the fluid. If it smells burnt, then it needs someone to look at it. Take it to a local shop you trust and have them look it over. Probably can get a rebuilt and replace it.

Definitely keep the truck. Like Mallard said...the 300 6cyl is built like a tank, just maintain it with oil/filter changes, etc.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Junkyards would be the best place for replacement on the big parts.

 

[buckbull]

As mentioned above, you can get drive shafts at the junk yard. Replace universal joints and install. Depends on how rust married everything is but the job is pretty easy to do.

 

[7mag]

There is a wealth of knowledge on you tube if you decide to do the work yourself or look up transmission replacement on there and it might help you decide if you want to do the work or take it in. A junk yard should have a new drive line and transmission might just need a fluid flush and new filter.

 

[shootbrownelk]

What tranny do you have in the truck...4 speed/5 speed/ automatic? The rear end or the driveline failed?

 

[Gr8bawana]

Like others have said, it sounds like you lost your drive-line. Junk yard will have plenty to match your truck. U-joints are very easy to replace but most any mechanic could do it for you if you don't think you can do it.

 

[JimP]

He's got a automatic.

From what I remember on some automatics is if the rear output shaft gets pulled out it will drain the transmission of fluid. If this is the case odds are all you will need to do is to refill it once you have the drive line replaced.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

He's got a automatic.

From what I remember on some automatics is if the rear output shaft gets pulled out it will drain the transmission of fluid. If this is the case odds are all you will need to do is to refill it once you have the drive line replaced.

You are probably right.

 

[Slugz]

Thanks everyone.

FYI its back in Colorado and I'm overseas so I'm relaying info. I've replaced a manual transmission many moons ago but the getting parts and things back then way of doing business is a lot different today, hence my question
After reading all the posts and getting more info from home....I'm guessing

1) U joint failure
2) rear drive departed.....pulled out.....all fluid gone from the transfer case
3) not sure what other damage as I'll have to take a look at it......transmission prior to this was in need of replacement that's why I was thinking maybe some issue in it caused something to go wrong with other things aft of it.

 

[JimP]

If the u joints are ignored and most are they will fail sooner or later. But you will notice them failing way before they blow apart. You will get a clink when putting the vehicle in drive or reverse and stepping on the gas. Or you can crawl under the vehicle and do a manual inspection of what they look like and try moving the driveshaft by hand. But since the drive line is now in CDOTs junk pile it doesn't matter.

I would suggest that you take a good look at it when you get home and even take some pictures of both the rear end and transfer case side of it and then we can go from there.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

......and just before failure, they will start clunking while driving. (From personal experience)

 

[Slugz]

If the u joints are ignored and most are they will fail sooner or later. But you will notice them failing way before they blow apart. You will get a clink when putting the vehicle in drive or reverse and stepping on the gas. Or you can crawl under the vehicle and do a manual inspection of what they look like and try moving the driveshaft by hand. But since the drive line is now in CDOTs junk pile it doesn't matter.

I would suggest that you take a good look at it when you get home and even take some pictures of both the rear end and transfer case side of it and then we can go from there.

I can 100% confirm the clink in reverse

 

[CODAK]

My brother has a 1990 single cab f150. We've replaced the U-joints in it before, its not too difficult. We also use it as a hunting truck as it can go everywhere (3" lift, 33's) and a lot of fun. Actually a handy down from my grandpa, who gave it to us with only 30k miles on it. Parts are harder to find, but if you look around enough you will luck out

 

[Timberstalker]

You will want to inspect he rearend yoke where the driveshaft connects for damage. I’ve seen them get damaged in situations like yours. You will want a big impact wrench to remove the old one if it needs replaced, those don’t usually just come right off after 25 years.

 

[shootbrownelk]

No, the rearend yoke does not come off easily, and when another goes on to replace it a new seal and a new crush washer will be required and it has to be torqued to specs and not just tightened-up. Been there, done that.