Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Need Trans Advise Please

[JimDavis]

I just put in a new torque converter and bolted the trans to the engine. I noticed the converter does not spin freely. Did I not get it down far enough in the trans. Please help before I put that ****** rear cross member back in. I don't want to pull that thing back out again. It's in a 98 12v if that makes a difference.



Thanks, Spencer

 

[JDKammin]

Anytime you install a torque convertor, spin it as you push in on it. You will get 3 distinct movements and will be seated correctly. The front of the convertor will sit in from the mounting surface of the transmission housing. When installing it to the engine, you should have to slide the convertor towards the flexplate to install the bolts.

 

[fox]

If it will not spin and you pulled the case bolts tight, you need to remove it and check the cause.

If it was not fully engaged in the pump you may have broke the pump.

 

[GHandt]

Your converter is not fully engaged with the transmission pump gear. If you havent started the truck you may not have damaged the pump yet. Pull it back apart and pull the converter out and check the pump gear for damage with a flashlight. Then put the converter back in and spin it as you go.

 

[JimDavis]

I have not started it yet. Everything mated up fine and the transmission sat flush with the engine. I did'nt have to force anything to get it together so hopefully I didn' damage anything.

 

[GHandt]

Usually the damage comes from the converter not being lined up with the pump gear and pushing it against the back of the pump. When you start the truck it tears the back of the pump and the gears up. If you pull the trans and make sure that the converter is all the way in you should be ok.

 

[JimDavis]

Thanks for the replies. I will pull it back out this morning and reset the converter. I'm just glad I ran out of time last night and did not put the crossmember back in. My arm hurt for days from beating that thing out. Please tell me it goes in easier that coming out.

 

[GHandt]

I just rebuilt the trans in mine a couple of weeks ago and it took only about half the time to put it back in that it took to get it out. I was cursing a certain bunch of engineers in a huge way when I was dealing with that crossmember!

 

[JimDavis]

I pulled the transmission back put, took the converter back out, attempted to seat the converter and it is still sitting about 3/4 inch outside of the transmission to engine matting surface. No matter how much I spin it it will not go in any further. Is this normal or do I have a problem?

 

[GHandt]

The converter will sit a little outside the bellhousing area because of how far the flexplate sits in the adapter. You could measure how far out the converter sits and then how far in the flexplate sits and if the flexplate is in farther than the converter is sticking out you should be good.

 

[JimDavis]

I reinstalled the trasmission, lined up all bolt holes, started all bolts and snuged up the trans to ther block and the converter spun fine. I tightened the bolts and now it will not spin. The only thing I noticed was that there was a burr on the shaft that fit into the center of the flywheel so I cleaned it up with some emery cloth. Could the flywheel be whats causing my converter not to spin?

 

[GHandt]

So you had the trans snugged up so there was no gap between the engine and trans and the converter spun and when you tightened them it would not? If there was a burr on the center hub of the converter it could be binding when you tighten it up. You could try sanding it down and using a little leverage to see if the converter spins after you tighten it up. Is there a space at all between the flywheel and the surface of the converter where the bolts go in? Or is that surface tight against the flywheel? There should be a little gap between the flexplate and the lugs that the converter bolts go in. If there is a gap after the engine and trans are bolted together then the hub on the converter is tight and if the lugs are tight up against the flexplate then the converter is still not all the way in.

 

[JimDavis]

That is correct there was no gap between the engine and trans and the converter spun just just fine. I will check for any space between the converter and flywheel tomorrow.