When we got the Jeep the transmission was slipping badly and was not drivable, because of this we wanted to rebuild a transmission we had pulled from our 88 Jeep Cherokee. 

We started by removing the transmission from the Jeep and carefully examining all the components, we took a close look at the torque converter and quickly noticed that the oil bearing was stuck to the shaft. This would explain why the transmission was slipping, but since we had the Jeep apart we decided it was smarter to go ahead and put in a new torque converter and rebuild our spare transmission. 

The first step in the process is to source the parts, We have used Transmission Parts of Oxnard in the past and decided to stop by the shop to see what they had.  After a few minutes we where on our way with a new torque converter and all new seals and bushings for the transmission, the owner of the shop had a look at our clutch pack and we both agreed that it was unnecessary to replace them at this time because they had minimal wear. We also inspected the oil pump and sun gears for signs of wear but they all looked good with very minimal wear. 

Digging into a transmission may sound like a daunting task but it is really a strait forward repair and with a little patience anyone can do. We also recommend downloading the factory service manual for the transmission you are working on, this will have many detailed images and tips for working on your transmission.

After returning to our garage we carefully installed the new parts and reassembled the transmission, on this transmission we are able to use the torque converter to align the oil pump before bolting down (some transmission models require a special tool to be used).

We then installed the new torque converter and bolted back up the transmission, after filling it with 9 quarts of Dexron III fluid we started it up and then cycled it though all the gears to make sure the fluid has filled all the passages in the valve body. We let it idle to operating temperature  and checked the fluid level once more, after that we took it for a test drive. It drove good but it was not shifting properly, leading us to the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) being faulty. Tests using a volt meter showed the sensor to be faulty and after replacing it and adjusting it to the proper voltage the Jeep then shifted properly. 

The total cost for rebuilding the transmission and new parts came in at a whopping: $245, if we had taken the Jeep to a transmission shop we would have paid over $1400 for the same repair.