Complete removal and installation of the 6R80 automatic transmission on a 4WD 2011-2014 Ford F-150 with the 5.0L Coyote V8 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Transmission pan gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Transmission drain plug crush washer × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Driveshaft U-joint hardware (if equipped with U-bolts) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Exhaust flange gaskets × 2 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

• Motorcraft MERCON LV ATF — 11 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Disconnect negative battery terminal to prevent electrical shorts
3. Raise vehicle and support securely on jack stands at frame contact points
4. Remove skid plates and belly pans if equipped
5. Allow transmission fluid to cool if vehicle was recently operated
6. Place drain pan under transmission and drain fluid via drain plug
7. Mark driveshaft-to-flange orientation with paint pen for proper reassembly alignment

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove driveshafts
   Remove the rear driveshaft by unbolting the flange at the rear differential (four bolts). Support driveshaft and slide rearward to remove from transmission output shaft. Remove front driveshaft from transfer case output by unbolting flange at front differential. Cap or plug transfer case output to prevent fluid loss.
2. 2

   Disconnect exhaust system
   Disconnect exhaust system at the Y-pipe to catalytic converter flange connection. Support exhaust with jack stand or wire to prevent strain on hangers. On some models, it may be necessary to remove the complete exhaust system from the catalytic converters back for clearance.
3. 3

   Remove crossmember and support transmission
   Position transmission jack under transmission pan and secure transmission to jack. Remove transmission crossmember mounting bolts (typically 4 bolts). Carefully lower transmission jack slightly to gain access to upper bell housing bolts. Do not allow transmission to hang unsupported.
   ⚠Ensure transmission jack is securely positioned and transmission is strapped to jack before removing crossmember.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Disconnect electrical connections and shift linkage
   Disconnect transmission wiring harness connector located on passenger side of transmission. Disconnect transfer case wiring harness connectors. Disconnect shift cable from transmission lever by prying cable end off ball stud, then remove cable bracket from transmission case. Mark cable position before removal.
5. 5

   Disconnect cooler lines and breather tube
   Disconnect transmission cooler lines at transmission using line disconnect tool. Have drain pan ready as residual fluid will drain. Cap or plug lines and transmission ports to prevent contamination. Disconnect transmission vent tube from top of transmission case.
   ⚠Use proper line disconnect tools to avoid damaging quick-connect fittings on cooler lines.
6. 6

   Remove transfer case-to-transmission mounting
   Remove the six bolts securing transfer case to transmission adapter. On 4WD F-150s, it is recommended to remove the transmission and transfer case as a single assembly. Support transfer case with chain or straps on transmission jack to prevent it from separating during removal.
7. 7

   Remove starter motor
   Remove starter motor mounting bolts (typically three bolts - two on starter body and one support bracket). Disconnect starter electrical connections. Remove starter and set aside. This provides access to lower bell housing bolts and torque converter.
8. 8

   Access and mark torque converter
   Remove torque converter inspection cover by removing cover screws from lower bell housing. Rotate engine by hand using crankshaft pulley bolt to access all torque converter-to-flexplate bolts. Mark torque converter position relative to flexplate with paint pen before removal.
   Torque spec

   Cover Screws14 Nm (10 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Remove torque converter bolts
   Remove all four torque converter-to-flexplate bolts while rotating engine to access each bolt through inspection cover opening. Push torque converter back toward transmission and secure with mechanic's wire or retention strap to prevent it from sliding out during transmission removal.
   ⚠Torque converter must be secured to transmission during removal or it will fall out and can be damaged.
   Torque spec

   Flywheel Bolts95 Nm (70 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Remove bell housing bolts
    Remove all transmission-to-engine bell housing bolts. There are typically 6-8 bolts of varying lengths around the perimeter. Note bolt locations as some are different lengths. On the 5.0L engine, access upper bell housing bolts from above through engine bay.
11. 11

    Separate and remove transmission assembly
    Carefully slide transmission assembly rearward on transmission jack, ensuring torque converter remains fully seated in transmission pump. Transmission must move straight back approximately 2 inches to clear alignment dowels before it can be lowered. Once clear of engine, carefully lower transmission jack and roll assembly out from under vehicle. Transmission and transfer case together weigh approximately 250-280 lbs.
    ⚠️Ensure torque converter is secured and transmission is firmly attached to jack. Combined weight of transmission and transfer case requires careful handling.
12. 12

    Inspect and prepare for installation
    Inspect flexplate for cracks or damage, especially around bolt holes. Inspect torque converter hub and pump seal area for damage. Verify torque converter is fully seated in transmission pump (measure depth from bell housing mounting surface to torque converter ear - should be approximately 1 inch recessed). Clean bell housing mating surfaces on engine and transmission. Install new transmission pan gasket if pan was removed for service.
    ⚠Torque converter MUST be fully seated in pump before installation. It should engage three times as it's pushed in: splined clutch hub, pump drive, and input shaft.
    Torque spec

    Pan Bolts20 Nm (15 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Install transmission assembly
    Ensure torque converter is fully seated and secured. Carefully raise transmission assembly into position using transmission jack. Align transmission with engine dowel pins and slide forward. Ensure transmission mates flush with engine block before installing any bolts. If resistance is met, do not force - lower and realign. Install all bell housing bolts and tighten in a star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Install torque converter and inspection cover
    Align torque converter with flexplate using alignment marks made during removal. Rotate engine to access bolt holes. Install all four torque converter-to-flexplate bolts and tighten in star pattern to specification. Verify torque converter rotates freely after installation. Install torque converter inspection cover.
    Torque spec

    Flywheel Bolts95 Nm (70 lb-ft)

    Cover Screws14 Nm (10 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Reinstall components and refill fluids
    Reinstall starter motor and electrical connections. Reinstall transmission crossmember and mounting bolts. Reconnect transmission cooler lines, shift cable, and all electrical connectors. Reconnect driveshafts, aligning marks made during removal. Reinstall exhaust system with new gaskets. Install new drain plug crush washer and install drain plug. Fill transmission with Motorcraft MERCON LV ATF to proper level (approximately 11 quarts, but verify on dipstick). Fill transfer case to proper level.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts76 Nm (56 lb-ft)

    Transmission Drain Plug30 Nm (22 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Tighten all bell housing bolts in star pattern to ensure even mating of transmission to engine block
2. Ensure all electrical connectors are fully seated and locked into position
3. Verify driveshaft alignment marks are matched to prevent vibration issues
4. Double-check torque converter rotates freely by hand before final installation
5. Reconnect negative battery terminal after all components are installed

Verification

• Check transmission fluid level with engine running in Park on level ground - fluid should be in HOT range after warm-up
• Start engine and verify no fluid leaks from pan, cooler lines, or torque converter area
• Verify proper shift cable adjustment - engine should only start in Park and Neutral
• Test drive vehicle through all gear ranges verifying smooth shifts and no slipping
• Recheck fluid level after test drive and top off if necessary
• Verify 4WD engagement operates properly by testing transfer case shift positions
• Check for any abnormal noises or vibrations during operation

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