How do you change a transmission in a 98 Lincoln mark VIII?

Answer 1

The best way to do this is to put the vehicle on jack stands as high as you can and follow these steps...

-Disconnect the battery (Neg. first always)

-Remove the drive shaft by removing the 4 bolts from the rear end. The drive shaft will slide out of the tail shaft of the transmission.

-Remove the starter

-Remove the exhaust Y pipe section

-Remove sheet steel inspection plate usually held on by 2 10mm bolts on the bottom of the bell housing

-Looking inside the the bell housing you will see a flex plate. You will also see nuts which are usually 15mm. There are 4 of them, these are called torque converter nuts. You may not see all 4 nuts. To remove all of them you must place a 24mm or 7/8s ratchet socket on the harmonic balance drive pulley on the front of the engine and turn the engine clockwise till you see the nut on the flex plate. You will need to remove the visible nut and turn the engine till you see the next one. Continue till you remove all 4.

-Place a floor jack with a 2x4 wood on the floor jack plate under the transmission oil pan.

-Remove the cross member from the vehicle. Usually 2 bolts on the chassis and 2 nuts on the end of the transmission tail shaft housing.

-Next lower the floor jack slightly. NOT ALL THE WAY DOWN!!!!

-On the drivers side you will see Shifter cable and wire harnesses. Disconnect these.

-On the passenger side you will see 2 transmission cooler lines. Remove these as well.

-Lower your floor jack more until you see the top of the bell housing. Using long 3/8s extensions remove the top 4 bell housing bolts usually 15mm. It is helpful to have a 3/8s universal as well. once removed Jack the transmission back to its original height and remove remaining lower bell housing bolts.

- Your Transmission is now free from the engine. BE CAREFUL

- Slightly move your transmission back a few inches and lower your transmission to the floor. Slide out the side of the vehicle

Recommendations!!!

Lift your vehicle at least 2 feet from the floor so you can work and get the transmission out from under the vehicle

After you remove your drive shaft use a freezer bag and duct tape. Place the bag over the tail shaft and Duct Tape the bag to the trans sealing the bag. Youll thank me at some point trust me.

When replacing the trans make sure the torque converter is set on the input shaft correctly by turning and pushing in on it on the input shaft. Once in place it will make a thud sound and will turn freely. Make sure it is in this position at all times!! When you put the transmission back in first make sure the studs on the converter are lined up with the flex plate mounting holes. Also once the studs are in the holes on the flex plate reach though the starter hole in the bell housing. Put your finger on the converter and try to turn it. You will not be able to turn it but you will hear the studs clank against the flex plate. It should do this freely. You will see what I mean. If you cant do this the torque converter is not in place correctly on the input shaft.