This car only has 98,000 miles & well maintained by the previous owner, I don't understand why this transmission gave way but I do understand that it's FORD cancer. I have yet to own a Ford I haven't had to swap the tranny on. EVERY single car I've owned is made by Ford, 4 Thuderbirds, one Mustang 5.0, my F-150 Lariat & also including 2 Mazda 626's I owned<-- made by Ford as well. ALL the listed cars were close to 100,000 miles except my truck & I had to replace the transmissions on all of them. My truck's tranny gave way at 57,000 miles.
Anyway, the problem is here & its real. Everyone says I should go with the 98 tranny. Is the 98 transmission a direct fit? Hopefully Jamie has a good cheap tranny in store, otherwise I have to see a local guy here in Miami but I don't know how much he'll charge me for a 98 tranny. Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated. More than anything, I'm venting with you guys. Thanks everyone.

First thing to do when you put ur new one in is install a trans cooler... its a MUST

I gave $250 for my 98 trans delivered (w/60K) and there is one on the bay now for $350 and Jamie did have one he was letting go cheap but that was a few months ago. The 98 is a direct fit but the harness has to be re-pinned. J-Mod the 98 and it should be good to go unless you're just abusive to them. I'm in the process of this now but I got hooked on painting for some odd reason. I have a good 93 trans in the garage also but like all others, it's day of giving out is coming too. I thought about J-Modding it and taking the updated piston and springs out of the 94 that I bought for it and putting into the 93 and really take my time with the 98. I only wanna do this once because I don't like being under cars so, I think the 98 is going in when I get done with it. Hopefully I don't end up in neutral also before the swap.

:q:q:q:qty one way clutch...

I have put roughly 70k on 4r70w's since I was 16 and haven't killed one yet...

I have put roughly 70k on 4r70w's since I was 16 and haven't killed one yet...

My 94 has 182K on it now and still going but the torque for a tire peel just isn't there like it used to be. I'm just being easy on it when I do get it out to go somewhere.

Side note: Check craigslist for a 98 tranny because that's where I found mine and the guy brought it to me in the back of a PT Cruiser and helped me unload it. He only lived 10 minutes from me. You never know when something is right down the road from you.

I want a JL 98 tranny... :D

Who doesn't... with a Circle D converter!

I had about 200K on the AOD in my Mustang when I got tired of it and rebuilt it using Lentech components. I had 202K on my Aerostar van when the A4LD lost overdrive, but it kept on rolling until I got rid of it. I've had pretty good luck with my Ford transmissions.

Triple plate

I'm 3 for 3 on killing 4r70ws, my 94 Mark's died at 117k, my 93's died at 107k, and my 02 Crown Vic lost 4th at 170k. My friend's 96 Mark's died at 120k, and another friend's 97 LSC's died at 150k.

I guess it's all about luck. I'm hoping I could find a good deal.

I guess it's all about luck. I'm hoping I could find a good deal.


Jamie has one right now for sale. I'm sure he would part it from the engine for you. I think he said it had 75K on it and if he will part it from the engine, I would go get it. I'm just not sure if he wants to sell as a whole or what. email him about it, he'll get back to you on it.

And Tommy went 360k on a 95... magic I tell you...

Jamie has one right now for sale. I'm sure he would part it from the engine for you. I think he said it had 75K on it and if he will part it from the engine, I would go get it. I'm just not sure if he wants to sell as a whole or what. email him about it, he'll get back to you on it.

I PM'd him yesterday, waiting on a reply.

Someone else said they sent him a PM a few days ago and he said he didn't get it so this is why I was suggesting an email. I can send him a text to catch his attention and maybe he'll come on if he's at home.

He's on his way home now. Should be on shortly.

replied to your pm, thanks terry. i was at the shop late pulling the motor out and my buddy matt who splits the shop with me called for a ride to rescue him, he got stopped by a pasco sheriff and 3 state troopers for an attached plate on his civic lol!! i told him a few days ago his luck would run out, it did tonight lmfao!! so its a late night for me.

I don't get it Jamie... what did he do??

he bought a civic, and took the tag off his truck and stuck it on the car to drive it home, a sheriff just happened to get behind him tonight on his way home and randomly ran the tag, well a 01 silver civic doesnt really look like a 2005 pewter f-150 lol

That is just stupid.... sucks for him... what kind of trouble will that get you in?

The police really frown on mis-matched front and rear tags with a license applied for sticker in the window. I didn`t see any problem with it, that`s why I did it.

KK in florida, attaching a tag can land you in jail no questions asked. he got lucky.

Guys it looks like I'm in luck. Tomorrow I will get a confirmation from a local guy on a 1997 tranny with only 52,000 miles for only $200.00. I think it's a great price! Now for the hard part, takin the old one down & replacing it! :(

you should check the date on that trans it could still have the mechanical diode.... which is what makes the 98 trans desirable.

you should check the date on that trans it could still have the mechanical diode.... which is what makes the 98 trans desirable.

+1, it should be labeled somewhere I believe. Do the J-Mod if at all possible and it will last you much longer. If it's not the updated year, I would get what Jamie has because I know exactly what car it's coming out of and it was well taken care of. Garage kept and lady driven.

Yo alex let me know if you need assistance im down......just get a 12 pack of beers and we'll go to town on it.

Good news guys, it's a 1998 tranny, not a 1997!!! It's got 52,984 exactly. Pulled off of a lady owned Mark VIII with a blown motor. Oh, & I got it for $180.00. I told him about my unemployment situation & since I've bought parts from him in the past he told me not to worry. I felt great!
I have to tow my car to my grandparents house where it will be more comfortable to work on. I have the air compressor & some airtools, it's been a while since I've been under the car, do you guys know if the exhaust needs to come off in order to access the tranny? Thanks.

Marvin, I'll probably be starting on the car this Saturday. I'll keep you posted so you can come over, no need for you to get dirty, just come hang with us. My friend & I will do the wrenching.

yes the exhaust has to come off.

Yep. had a feeling... Darn it, I wish I knew someone locally with a car lift, hate doing this kind of work on the floor, it's so darn uncomfortable. I just found out tonight I won't be able to do anything this weekend. I washed my car & covered it up because I have a feeling it will be sitting another 4-5 days.

Yep. had a feeling... Darn it, I wish I knew someone locally with a car lift, hate doing this kind of work on the floor, it's so darn uncomfortable. I just found out tonight I won't be able to do anything this weekend. I washed my car & covered it up because I have a feeling it will be sitting another 4-5 days.


I feel the same way about getting under a car period. I hate it! Mine hasn't hit neutral yet but I need to be getting on the ball before it does. I wanna say that the high flow cat (drivers side) gets all in the way too when you pull the trans. Seems like it did when I pulled the 93 out. Dropping exhaust all that is annoying but it has to be done. I got all my fluid ready. I just need the gaskets now to J-Mod it and then it's floor time. I have a 93 that I could just put new front and rear seals in and do a quick swap but one day in the future, I know the same thing is coming again so I'm going with my 98 tranny for a one time deal, hopefully.

That's why I'm very happy that I got the 98 tranny. I'm just hoping I don't have to modify anything & that it will pop in without a glitch! I'm thinking of taking it to a local tranny shop & just have them install it for me.

That's why I'm very happy that I got the 98 tranny. I'm just hoping I don't have to modify anything & that it will pop in without a glitch! I'm thinking of taking it to a local tranny shop & just have them install it for me.

You do know the wiring harness has to be re-pinned don't you. I also think the 3-4 shift solenoid has to come out and go into the 98 too. I know it has to be re-pinned but someone else will clarify what else has to be swapped out.http://www.p71interceptor.com/tranny/diagrams/electrical/external/bulkhead/index.html

Make sure it's not pinned wrong and don't ask XLR (Tommy) how he knows this lol.

its not a direct swap!! research is your friend.

its not a direct swap!! research is your friend.


This was mentioned in post #3 in this very thread and I think a few other times in this thread. I know it was mentioned before the transmission was bought.

This was mentioned in post #3 in this very thread and I think a few other times in this thread. I know it was mentioned before the transmission was bought.

:I You are absolutely correct. I skimmed through the post & missed that.:slam Plus, that's when I was talking about the 1997 transmission & understood that the 97 & under needed the J-mod. I guess this is something I will have to do with someone (with experience) over the phone. I've been working on cars since I was 16 & I'm turning 31 in a few months so that's half my life but I've never openned up a tranny.

:gr_hail: I'm on my knees, who wants to donate their time with me when I decided to move forward with this?

The J-Mod doesn't have to be done. It just helps the transmission shift better and go into gear better and simply allow more fluid flow. It helps it live a longer healthier life but the pinout has to be done before it goes into your car. On the side of the trans, you'll see the plugin but the plug that goes into that is what needs to be re-pinned. Right now you have 3 positive wires that go into your current trans. After the re-pinning, only one positive wire will be going in and inside, the other 2 positives will be taken care of. I think the only other thing that has to be swapped out is the 3-4 shift solenoid which is held in with 2 bolts. My 7 year old could swap that part out.

http://www.p71interceptor.com/tranny/diagrams/electrical/external/bulkhead/index.html

If I get to mine before you do, I'll try to take as many pics as possible. I have to do the same thing that you're about to do. I'm going through with the J-Mod and replacing the front and rear seals also. I have a perfectly good 93 trans setting in the garage, plug and play but I don't want that one just to have the same problem haunt me again. I could take the updated accumulator and springs out of my 94 that I put in and put them into the 93 and just J-Mod it. All I would be facing with the 98 that I have is re-pinning and swapping out the 3-4. I have to do something quick, that's all I know because my 94 is already talking to me while in idle.

The J-Mod doesn't have to be done. It just helps the transmission shift better and go into gear better and simply allow more fluid flow. It helps it live a longer healthier life but the pinout has to be done before it goes into your car. On the side of the trans, you'll see the plugin but the plug that goes into that is what needs to be re-pinned. Right now you have 3 positive wires that go into your current trans. After the re-pinning, only one positive wire will be going in and inside, the other 2 positives will be taken care of. I think the only other thing that has to be swapped out is the 3-4 shift solenoid which is held in with 2 bolts. My 7 year old could swap that part out.


Interesting, ok, well, in the next couple days I plan to raise the car & start looking at what I have to work with. I already have the 1998 tranny sitting at the side of my house. I just have to grab it & also start playing with it. I have to print that diagram link that you sent so I can use as referrence. Again, I'll only be looking so that once I get down & dirty I have some advantage on my side.

If I get to mine before you do, I'll try to take as many pics as possible. I have to do the same thing that you're about to do. I'm going through with the J-Mod and replacing the front and rear seals also. I have a perfectly good 93 trans setting in the garage, plug and play but I don't want that one just to have the same problem haunt me again. I could take the updated accumulator and springs out of my 94 that I put in and put them into the 93 and just J-Mod it. All I would be facing with the 98 that I have is re-pinning and swapping out the 3-4. I have to do something quick, that's all I know because my 94 is already talking to me while in idle.

I have to agree with you there, by the looks of it, my current 1993 tranny may just have the 1-2 solenoid in need of replacing but I rather go with the newer tranny.

Thanks a billion man! You've been super helpfull. I've never done this but I'm sure I'll be able to do it with no problem. Thanks.

GUYS I NEED SOME HELP! CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY NEW THREAD?

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=59472