Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

I'm new to working on a 4x4 and will be dropping the transmission for a rebuild soon. The motor is out of the truck already, the transmission is in place, held up by blocks, and still connected to the transfer case. Before I start pulling bolts to see what comes apart, can anyone advise me on separating the two?

I'd like to leave the transfer case in place and just drop the transmission, but that may not be the best approach. I am very familiar with working on cars and trucks and have the tools....I've just never been around a 4x4.

Any basic steps, tricks, or things to be aware of would be great!

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

Best to pull the transmission and tcase together
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Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

No sane person would try to leave the transfer case in there.

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

Just so I'm clear...the motor is already out...so, it's still best to take the transmission and case out together?

That's the path I will take...thank you both!

What about splitting the two apart. Is is as simple as removing the obvious bolts and it comes apart?

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

Yep. Remove the 6? bolts and slip the two apart. There is a gasket there and the shafts are splined.

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

Thanks Cort, Your timing is good as I should get the transmission and transfer case on the ground tomorrow, so long as work doesn't get in the way.

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

If the engine is out unbolt the 4 bolts that attach the case to the transfer case adapter and pull the transmission forward out of the adapter. Transmission kit will come with the new o-ring seal for when you bolt it back together. No reason to take transfer case out of the vehicle.

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

Thanks for chiming in Gradys, but given the earlier "no sane person" advise...I'm only the speedo cable, shift linkage, and cross member bolts away from having the pair on the floor. I guess I'll take the opportunity to clean the t.case up before it goes back in.

I could see how it would make sense with the motor in place to drop them both together, but I've never done this...I'll learn it one way or another...

Next question...what's the best procedure for it all to go back in???

I'm thinking...

Trans case first, then transmission, then motor.

OR...Trans case, then motor AND transmission connected together first...then all that through the engine bay.

OR...Trans case AND transmission connected together first, put in place, then the motor. Just like it came out.

You tell me. I have a engine hoist with a load leveler, but no tranny jack...just a couple floor jacks.

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

I would assume he has a shop with things like lifts, jacks, stands and such. The transfer case isn't going to float there, you would need to support it. While he may have a pile of tools to easily leave it up there most don't and given the engine was out the best thing to do in my eyes is remove it. Work smarter not harder.

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

Be careful to avoid supporting the transmission under the pan with a floor jack.

You can bend the pan so that it obstructs fluid pickup depending on how the strainer is configured. The 4L80E is much easier to damage in this manner but it's best to avoid supporting any automatic under the pan with a small saddle floor jack.

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

leave it bolted to the adapter which is still in there I would think

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

The adapter doesn't defy gravity either.

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

Is the transfer case and adapter bolted to the crossmember or is the transmission mounted to the crossmember?

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

OK, my adapter was bolted to the crossmember

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

Maybe I'm the one that isn't sane. Just to make sure though, who here has actually pulled a transmission while leaving the transfer case in?

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

not sure why someone would even consider it actually

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

The reality is that the transfer case weighs eighty pounds and the weight is off-center. It will pull the transmission off to the heavy side. When I rebuilt the drivetrain in my '89 I separated the transfer case from the transmission. Made it much easier for myself and I did the work in my late 50's.

Re: Splitting a 700R4 from the Transfer Case..School me Please
 

After the fact, I found the above statement to be very true. Since I was already going down the path of pulling them together...that's what I did. I will not do that again. The off-center weight made it terribly unstable and required 3 different jacks and sets of blocks. But, it's out.

IF the transmission had to come out with the motor still in the truck, I'd pull the transfer case first then the transmission.

Bad news is that one of the bolts that holds the tail of the transmission to the adaptor had corroded/galled to the threaded tail hole and that caused the corner of the tail to break off...I now have a big paper weight.