how to make sure the torque converter is seated properly?

[WillyPete]

TC is inside tranny, filled with fluid etc etc.

however, the guy who runs the shop i'm working at says that he grenaded a 727 by screwing up the torque converter install. something about not being seated properly. so how do i ensure it's on there right? it seems to be on there all the way, there's enough clearance for the flexplate and the tranny, everything rotates freely.

sound good to you guys? i just don't want to have this tranny blow up on me, i need to get home for christmas :eek: !

thanks smile.gif

[goofy289]

converter should go in so far that the backside rubs on inside of the belhousing or comes darn close(not room for even your pinky finger). when you tighten the converter bolts it will pull it a way from the bellhousing. smile.gif

[illegalFSJ]

It sounds to me like you've got it in there just fine.

[1KWagoneer]

I blew up my transmission the same way. Make sure it is all the way in.

[Kukur]

Just curious...

What would be a 'sign' that the converter isn't seated correctly once it is one the road? or perhaps that it doesn't have enough fluid?

[Bob Barry]

The sign of it not seated would be the horrible nashing sounds of your transmission grinding itself to death once you start your engine.

Low fluid would be if it popped out of gear when cold, or taking a long time to engage once the shifter is moved to the appropriate range.

[J4GRAND]

I just got through doing this to my TH400 so I know. The trans didn't make any noise (or none that I could hear) and simply started acting like it was low on fluid- i.e. slipping and not going into gear right away. Once the pump was trashed, it felt like any trans when the clutch plates go- shuddering and major slipping.

[Kukur]

Thanks for the info.

I will sleep a lot better tonight. smile.gif

[Ralph]

You can put a straight edge on the back of the flex plate, and measure the gap from the back of the engine block to the back of the flex plate (to which the torque converter bolts up).

Next, place a straight edge across the bell housing and measure the gap from the straight edge to the torque converter.

If the torque converter is seated properly, these two measurements will be the same, and it will then be okay to mate the transmission to the engine.

Another thing to remember: Before you begin, place the torque converter by itself up the flexplate and align the bolt holes, then mark at least one hole. You'll then want to take some care to get the torque converter and flex plate holes right when mating the tranny to the engine, else you could have to remove the tranny again in order to get them lined up. (There are balancing weights welded on the back of the flex plate, that will prevent you from turning the flex plate freely around the torque converter once the engine and tranny are mated.)

[WillyPete]

Originally posted by Ralph:
Another thing to remember: Before you begin, place the torque converter by itself up the flexplate and align the bolt holes, then mark at least one hole. You'll then want to take some care to get the torque converter and flex plate holes right when mating the tranny to the engine, else you could have to remove the tranny again in order to get them lined up. (There are balancing weights welded on the back of the flex plate, that will prevent you from turning the flex plate freely around the torque converter once the engine and tranny are mated.)i found this out the hard way :mad: :mad: :mad:

man i was pissed last night... ah well, experience and bloody knuckles build character, right? :(