1985 Monte carlo

[kyhunter89]

I may not have brakes or speedo but i will have my AC.

Ill have to change fluid after first 500 miles anyway. May do it then.

[kyhunter89]

headers back on. went to put torque converter bolts in, I dont know how or when but the converter is now up against the flexplate. I could rotate it 6" but its raised where it bolts on, and I know it wasnt supposed to be this close, So loosened the bellhousing bolts and jacked up slightly on oilpan of engine. trans slid back 1/4" or so. Can spin converter completely around. Can not get it to go in any further. I have been pulling it out spinning, pushing in, try again. Theres 3/8" id guess on the converter snout sticking outside the seal.

[Beagle]

step away from it, try it again. Pull it as far back as you can, try again. It should have a satisfying thunk when it goes home, and weirdly, it will just slide up there when it does it.

[kyhunter89]

been at it since around 8. came into this problem about 11. Ive walked away bout 6 times now. Jacked back of car off ground, in N, spun both ends, Then in Drive, 2nd, 1st. How far should the Converter snout be stick out from the front seal? Starting to wonder if Something else is wrong.


Backstory. I've had this motor bolt and running to two other th350's before. I Never took the flexplate off. The converter is new for a th350 Jegs 60400 10.75" bolt circle. My flexplate is dual pattern either way. The trans and stock converter was bolted to I'd guess three different motors before we swapped the truck to overdrive.

[yellomalibu]

Like Beagle said, it should go in a good bit further. Assuming all parts are the correct parts.

It sounds like the two notches in the torque converter snout aren't engaging the front pump of the transmission. Sometimes they can be a real pain to get lined up. I don't know if the tolerances are super tight or if the pump turns when you try rotating the converter. If you've messed with it that many hours, it may be time to separate the converter from the transmission completely and try it again. I hate having to undo stuff I've already "done", but sometimes it's faster to just do it than trying to keep at it, looking at it, trying it, looking at it, trying it, walking away, trying it again, etc.

[SuperBuickGuy]

like everyone said, it should be in further - and some can be a real PITA to get to drop that second clunk.

In answer to your question, the torque converter should almost touch the transmission case by the oil pan. Give me an hour or so to awaken, and I'll to shop and snap a picture of one.

[Deaf Bob]

I wouldn't know, but aren't you supposed to hear the pump pumping when it is seated?
I was trying to look for seepage out the cooler lines and a helper said, "I hear it pumping" and showed me how close to the pan it was.. Since then, visual is how I did it...

[kyhunter89]

SBG, its been long enough. I know its not all the way in now.

Bob, Its empty so I dont know if I should hear it pumping.

YellerBu, I think I'll be following you advice. It's sunday, Im off till next Sunday, So i'm gonna try and get to it tomorrow. Im thinking I can do it without taking the headers off.

I had read once upon a time that If you even have the motor/trans out of a gbody to hammer the welded seam on the firewall flat, I'd forgot and now remember why, middle drivers bellhousing bolt.

In my day of spiritual rest, Im about to go blow some shit up.

[Beagle]

blowing shit up is restful... soothing to some even.

Can you get the converter all the way out enough to turn it a couple of degrees and try again?

[kyhunter89]

I can turn the converter all day, 360*, but not sure what you mean about all the way out.

[yellomalibu]

I can turn the converter all day, 360*, but not sure what you mean about all the way out.

all the way out means remove it completely... out of the transmission.

[Beagle]

'xactly. try a different spline. You'll have it out by then though I guess. Hang in there.

[kyhunter89]

Help!!! SOS!!!
I've pulled it out and put it back in and pulled it back out. Flat edge across bellhousing measures 3/4" from the bolt mounts on the converter.

[yellomalibu]

I wish I could be more help - but I don't know why it's not working. Either there is a problem with one (or more) of the parts being wrong, or is simply hasn't gone all the way in yet for some reason.

Is that a known good converter that used to fit in that tranny?
Do you have a different converter to try?
Have you had that tranny and converter in a running car - perhaps behind a different engine?
Do you have another motor with flex plate you can measure for comparison?
I seem to recall that you rebuild that tranny... could the input shaft be not all the way in or something? ( I really am just throwing out ideas that pop into my head - no offense).

[kyhunter89]

It's a new unused converter. Im really worried about that last thing you said. I rebuilt the trans, and am scared something is wrong. I dont have another th350 setting around. just a 700r4, th350c(in pieces) and metric 200, AOD, C4, 4r70w. There really should be a th350 setting around.