New 360

[trssho]

Well, Just finished bolting up my crate 360 today. Had a bit of a problem however. Got the engine and trans bolted up, then realized that the torque converter would not turn. OK, so I took the FN thing back out to see what was the matter. ...away to the window I flew like a flash....oops, getting into the Christmas spirit. Pulled it out and found that the crank on the new engine had some kind of bushing installed where the torque converter nose goes.
Now here is my question.....do you think I damaged anything in the trans by doing this? And too, what was this bushing doing in my crank? If it did screw up my trans or torque coverter, I will raise holy hell with the builder!

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1989 GW Tan w/106K miles
1989 GW Blk Cherry 69k miles

[98 bird of prey]

Hope for the best, You will find out at start-up real fast. I had that happed in 1985 on a DeLorean of all things, It was OK in the end. What Mods are you doing on the new Engine? any idea of how much horespower?

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Alvin D.

[UnkleMunky]

Oh boy...this doesn't sound good. Though I might think that a bushing is to be used with a manual trannied setup.

I think I recall someone saying something about having a bushing or something there on a new install and ended up having their tranny ruined due to whoever installed it not doing one minor thing to it. Was it Justin Baker??? I can't recall the details offhand, but it wasn't pretty, and your question rigns very familiar....I'll do a little checking and see if he can drop in on this subject....

Take care...
Michael
'78 J10/'76 J10

[JeepFreak]

That metal race(bushing) goes in all 360 and 401 crate motors. If you run a TH400 it is needed to center the torque converter. You must remove this bushing for the TF 727! If you dont the torque converter will not sit flush on the flex plate. My question is how in the world did you ever get the torque converter to bolt up in the first place? Usually it will not fit without removing the metal race. I just put an engine from a 76 in a 89 today and this is still the same situation. In order for the 727's torque converter to match up the bushing must be removed. Like I said I really do not know how you got it to bolt up. Let me know how it goes. The race is a little tough to get out but it will. Just work it from the inside and she will pop out.

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JeepFreak



[This message has been edited by JeepFreak (edited December 16, 2000).]

[UnkleMunky]

Ok..I have to stand corrected....not J. Baker....sorry Justin! I think he has a 360 also though! Justin "Phillips" was one asking about a rebuilt 360 and in turn it was actually Greg Boswell that had the trouble. See the following:
http://www.egroups.com/message/1FSJ/8619

Look at the image and read the details....is THAT familiar?

You might want to contact Greg B. or Jim Blair on this....they apparently have better knowledge on it! I "knew" this sounded familiar.....not sure if it's your exact problem, but maybe it can help!

Jim can be reached at carnuck@webtv.net
Greg at: gboswell@texas.net

Also, do some searching on 1FSJ list on egroups for messages by Greg on the topic.....he really gave some good points and unforunately he paid for the lesson...hopefully others can NOT do so with his advice.

Hope this helps some.....
Take care....
Michael
'78 J10/'76 J10

[JeepFreak]

It sure is a shame that that guy had toi go through so many people to find someone that knew what he was doing. If you have swapped and stollen parts from one rig to another you pick up on these things quickly! Like I said earlier this bushing must be removed. You would think that they would leave it out for specified years but they do not. I first learned of this problem when I was swapping parts on my AMX and Javelin's years ago and it never fails that story's like this rear their ugly heads. These bushings are in quite a few AMC motors so you just have to be aware that they may or may not be needed. trssho, did you run the engine before you found out this or did you discover it when you tried to bolt the bolts to the flex plate? If you didn't run the tranny or bolt the torque converter than you may be ok. If you forced it on and did some damage to the torque converter get a new one. If you started the motor pray that you didn't do any damage. Isn't this the way it works, a 30 cent part always causes thousands in damage.

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JeepFreak

[This message has been edited by JeepFreak (edited December 16, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by JeepFreak (edited December 17, 2000).]

[trssho]

Thanks for the replys. I actually got the engine bolted to the bell housing only. I bolted it up and was unable to turn the torque converter. So luckily(relatively) I didn't get the mounts bolted, starter in, linkage etc..(thanks to Al) So while it was a huge pain in the Great Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley Moogley, it could have been worse. I am however very pissed that the engine builder didn't warn me of this. The stupid bushing is very thin, you can't even tell its there.
Oh well, I won't know if I damaged anything until I get it running.( probably next week)

As for horse power, I am hoping for 330 hp at the rear wheels, but expect only 150hp. HA! Am installing mild cam, and Edelbrock intake and carb.

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1989 GW Tan w/106K miles
1989 GW Blk Cherry 69k miles

[Gregorio]

WOAH!!!

I have had this disaster. Cost me 'bout $1803.34 if ya wanna know the numbers. Numbers that will forever live in infamy. http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/smile.gif ( If ya don't laugh you'll cry)
That bushing is for the TH400 tranny and will cause major dustruction to transmissions in very short order. I would check out the front pump, if there is a way to do that, before I put it back in. That seems to be the most offended part to start with.

AND!!! There is enough play in that system that you can force the engine and tranny together and it will compress that 1/2 inch and run for a while. I got about 4000 miles before the original tranny went out. The second, the one that Jim Blair built, never ran right out of the gate and was destroyed in less than 50 miles of futile attempts to adjust things.

If I had questions about how to tell if that tranny were damaged I'd contact Jim Blair. I think I saw his email address in a previous post along with mine.

Good luck trssho, and I'm glad you saw the problem several hundred dollars sooner than I did.



Gregorio
87 GW Big Grin

[This message has been edited by Gregorio (edited December 16, 2000).]

[JeepFreak]

Hey trssho, are you going to be using the Edelbrock timing chain and gear set? If you do there is a trick to that too.

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JeepFreak

[trssho]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JeepFreak:
Hey trssho, are you going to be using the Edelbrock timing chain and gear set? If you do there is a trick to that too.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I actually ordered my engine out of NJ and had a custom cam and a double roller timing chain installed. Hopefully they knew what they were doing when the put this thing together. I hope to have this thing running before Christmas.

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1989 GW Tan w/106K miles