Ascent Overland

Having the help of my brother was huge on the replacement of this massively heavy transfer case. I promise to start making videos of these things soon, but for now I’m such a newbie in the social posting world that I’m happy to just get photos of the projects I’m accomplishing. With the transfer case back on and the motor mounts, transmission mount, and fluids all being change the total cost of DIY was around $170 vs the $1800 + tax I was quoted to do it. Taking my time to make sure all of the seals and gaskets were 100% and the bolts were torqued properly gives me great confidence for a successful shakedown soon to come.

In order to drop the transfer case down I had to drain both it and the transmission. There’s a very specific process to change the transmission fluid and you should always consult a qualified transmission professional / do your research before moving forward. That said, I was able to change the filters and check on the condition of my transmission. The magnet inside revealed very little metal shavings which is a huge win and is a good sign I’ll get many more years, and more importantly, miles out of it. For reference, I made an absolute mess of my garage floor dropping this down even with plenty of prep and caution... be prepared to be a mess. After I replaced the oil pan, I left the fluids empty. Since I’m doing the engine oil, differentials, and brakes my plan is to leave everything empty until the very end so that every fluid is checked and filled to ensure nothing is assumed or missed. Be sure to write these things down in your “final checklist” before starting the engine up again.