I'm seriously considering DIY rebuilding my 5hp19 tranny. I have the infamous No Reverse problem. I've sourced the rebuild kit, updated clutch drum and manuals. The cost will be around $1k. I couldn't find a video like those available for more common tranny's. My question is, do you know of any home mechanic that has rebuilt a 5hp19 or any other similar ZF transmission? Any odds on my success?
If you have time, skills, and a manual, I don't see why you couldn't. You already seem to know the cause and have found the parts, so I say, what have you got to lose? If you can't do it, you can always bring it to a trans shop (put hte trans back together, first.) Just be patient, organized, and remember that you can probably rent any tool you will need. Good luck!
Thanks for the vote of confidence. The problem I fear most is special tools. A friend has rebuilt a couple of GM trannys and he says he always has to fabricate some sort of special tool. I dont know of any place that rents these type of tools. My second problem is time. I have will 4 days to complete the job. I slowly leaning toward paying to have it done. I left a new torque converter out of the parts list and that makes it $1300. I dont know that the shop would replace it since it is good but they would certainly have a machine to clean the old one if they dont replace it.
Ooo, 4 days. If you are doing this on the ground, bet on a day just to get it out and back in (maybe more.) Why only 4 days? Can you put it off until you have more time? Can you just drive the car and not have to parallel park or back uphill until you can? Maybe you can work a deal where you hand them the trans and they repair it in 2 days and give it back, but you could be SOL if they can't finish in time. With the time constraints, I would lean toward paying a trans shop to do it and give you a warranty.
I found a repaired, not fully rebuilt, tranny for $1300. I am going to put that one in, keep my broken one and rebuild it during the one year warranty. I bought the ZF published 5hp10 repair manual and it is basically a step by step guide but it takes special tools which will have to be improvised.