Brandon587

ok, so here is where im at. I know have two part time jobs along with football. So not a ton of time. I want to at least change out my flexplate and hope my problem is gone. THe only thing I can think of is the possibility of my torque converter going out, but it just doesnt sound anything like a bad torque converter. So, the week after this upcoming week I plan on replacing the flex plate and changing fluid, gasket on the tranny, and filter. My oil leak is slow, I'd like to have it fixed, but I haven't tried even tightening all the bolts up on it, and one is gone so that may be all it is. ANd the leak is slow enough that I don't have to add oil between changes, but it goes from high side of good to low side. Ill try tightening it up tomorrow and see what it does. SO that job saves about a days work. Transfer Case can easily be done with half a day anytime, so im going to put that off for now. It needs new gaskets. I hate to do this, but I'm in a time crunch and it's just the way things worked out, on top of all this we are also moving, only about 100 yards, but still the junk we have to move is unbelievable. ANy recommendations on what I should do, this is my game plan as of now. Also, is there any flex plate in particular I should get or will any do fine? Are some made of better quality metal than others? Thanks

DIY

For your budget I recommend a Pioneer Inc. P/N: FRA202 4 wheel drive flexplate. Your OE flexplate has a 164 tooth starter ring gear, so make sure they match up before you install the new replacement.

O'Reilly Auto Parts can order one for you and cost is under $50 plus tax.

Brandon587

ANd it will hold up well. I looked it up, and cant find that it will fit my truck, I can only find it fitting older 5.8s. ?But I havent looked super deep into it yet.

DIY

This flex plate fits 1996 f150's with the 5.8L (351cid) engine VIN designation "H".
It specs out as a 164 tooth 12 pitch ring gear 14.23" diameter flew plate.

Here is another source for reference purposes only, since this unit carries no warranty.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-FRA202-Auto-Trans-Flexplate-/290823519754?vxp=mtr&hash=item43b66ebe0a
Buy it from O'Reilly and get a 1 year limited warranty. ( the store address is a generic location for reference purposes only. The price is the same for any O'Reilly outlet.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...3232&ppt=C0338

Brandon587

Yea, I actually went to o'reilly's today and they told me $49 shipped to the store, and if I call in the morning it can be shipped to the store the same day, so are all flexplates equal, one isnt better than the other, or is is this one at least as good as the original?

DIY

According to the folks at Pioneer, the company specializes in the manufacture of hard to find parts for many makes and models of domestic autos and light trucks. They claim their quality meets or exceeds OEM standards.

Brandon587

That's good. But as an update, yesterday I went to tightenthe bolts just to check one more time, and I noticed one nut just spinning, like the problem I had when I went to take it out a few months ago. I rethreaded the stud and got a new nut, thought it was fixed, but guess not. So, I guess that may be the rattle, not the flex pplate being cracked, but Ill check on that when I take it out. But, exactly a week ago, I cut my figure at work, got 3 internal stitches and 9 regular stitches, so that kinda messed things up. This was the week I planned on pulling my tranny, I dont know when I can next now. It sucks, but nothing I can do about it now.

Brandon587

So, my finger has long since healed, and my football season is over. Now, I have to save for this job, still making the noise, and I'm rethreading the stud and replacing the flexplate, just to make sure it is . Probably around my Christmas break, I think I can have it done in a weekend. Ill probally do the rear main seal, and maybe the oil pan gasket, idk about it yet. Most like the rear main though. Then I can do the transfer case too, and I should have no leaks then. Just an update, this thread isn't dead yet!

Brandon587

Still gonna do it btw, in spring. Defiantly spring, but first I'm rehearing the truck.

Brandon587

I did replace my flexplate, old one had two very small hairline cracks. I replaced it and truck still makes the noise. This was back around march. It hasn't gotten worse in the 14,000 miles I drove it since then, but today I watched the torque converter and flex plate while running, and when I ha some one rev it and let it die back down, I saw the flxplate was out of balance with the tourqe converter. CAn omething inside the torque converter cause this? Or something out of balance in the front pump?