bad torque converter or bad transmission?

[sbx22]

TH350 with 350 engine. Rebuilt tranny and engine about 5K miles ago, running great all this time. Just today, took it around town for errands. Did a mild burnout for the heck of it (I only drive this truck every week or 2) . Anyway, on my way home on the highway, I was only on the highway for 1 minute and I moderately gassed it. I smell a rotten egg smell, reminded me of volcanic sulfur smell. I just thought maybe it was the car in front of me or something in the area. Anyway, the smell subsided in about 10 seconds. I exit and get on smaller streets cruising 40 mph and as I slow down and about to make a left, the engine surged in RPM for a slight second, then dropped to idle. I tried accelerating but it kept surging up and down when I put pressure on the gas pedal. Therefore, I coasted home on idle and was close by home already. Once I get home, I check it out and with the engine still running, I get this shutter coming from torque converter like it was loose. It was shutter... no shutter... shutter... no shutter and so on. I turn off the engine, pry it with a pry bar and there was mild play but I can see it was coming from the flexplate. Right now in park, if I try to shift it into gear, there is no drop in idle like usual, it stays up at 1000 to 1100 RPM. It just acts like it is in neutral. I can rev all I want, I won't go anywhere. No engagement, nothing. Shift linkages still all attached.

Can a torque converter come loose after all these miles? Is it time for a new torque converter? Is it time for a whole new/rebuilt tranny? What kind of tests can I do?

[thefarmboy21]

Your torque converter didn't come loose or shear the bolts that connect it to the flexplate did it?
Did you lose any fluid? What's the fluid look/smell like?
Well it could be a few things but the torque converter is last on my list UNLESS the bolts came out. By the smell I would say maybe you smoked the clutches/bands. It also sounds like the pump went bad but I don't think it would smell like eggs. Then there's also the valve body in there. I've helped/watched my buddy rebuild a few turbo 350's and they're about as simple as they get when it comes to auto trannies. That's all we run in our derby cars and anytime a tranny has went out it's been a bad pump or we smoked the clutches. We started running TCI pumps and rebuilding more often and haven't had any problems.....well, other than shattering a couple cases lol.

[sbx22]

I checked all the bolts (crank to flexplate; flexplate to TC). They're all holding up. I've had a shift shaft seal leaking on me since rebuild, but leaks slow and I've been driving it like that since install intermittently checking fluid. I checked when this happened, down by one quart. I filled it up to specs but no change. Fluid color looks reddish, I think it looks good. Smells like regular fluid.

You make it sound easy but I wonder if I can tackle this myself, with the rebuild? I'm pretty good with following directions, fair set of tools and have done my own engine swaps, tranny swaps, etc. I've never actually build my own engine or tranny. Any opinions?

[Dan75k20]

Sbx I am also having transmission troubles  I feel your pain its my dd I ordered a transmission from monster transmission it has 4000 miles on it and 2nd gear is slipping 1st and 3rd are fine also it is shifting erratically I'm pissed because their builder basically told me the forward drum and sprag is not much stronger than stock he said with the torque and HP my truck is making along with the weight of the truck this is why this happened it is supposed to handle up to 400 horses it will take 3 days to ship back 3 days to fix and 3 days to ship back  and they are installing the HD drum and rebuilding the rest of it I have to pay for shipping and new fluid I have been thinking about buying all the tools to rebuild it myself.

[SomeTexan]

Sbx I am also having transmission troubles  I feel your pain its my dd I ordered a transmission from monster transmission it has 4000 miles on it and 2nd gear is slipping 1st and 3rd are fine also it is shifting erratically I'm pissed because their builder basically told me the forward drum and sprag is not much stronger than stock he said with the torque and HP my truck is making along with the weight of the truck this is why this happened it is supposed to handle up to 400 horses it will take 3 days to ship back 3 days to fix and 3 days to ship back  and they are installing the HD drum and rebuilding the rest of it I have to pay for shipping and new fluid I have been thinking about buying all the tools to rebuild it myself.

I used to think automatic transmissions were crap because of mail order transmissions. TCI at 2k+ each, and never more than 3k miles was killing me. Then I tried a local trans shop. Way cheaper and everything I've had done local was problem free. Plus, if they won't honor their warranty, I know where to find them.

[sbx22]

Sorry to hear about that Dan, especially it being your DD. I can go without my truck because I have a DD. Texan, that's what I was thinking too, maybe just look around a local shop and actually talk to the guy instead of mail order. I've been reading up Hughes and TCI brand trannies, I've been hearing horror stories. Plus if one of these junk on me, then I'd be responsible for shipping costs to and from them again to get it fixed like Dan said. I guess I'll give it time and look around.

[Dan75k20]

I'm being real easy on the truck I'm going to buy something else in a week or so or buy a used trans I just figured it would last a bit  longer than 6 months 

[thefarmboy21]

Just get you a video off eBay. I've helped, never done it by myself. It CAN be done with no special tools but a screwdriver, couple picks and a socket set.....BUT a clutch pack compressor makes a world of difference. There's lots of parts but nothing to mic, clearance etc. Just take it apart and put it back together with the new parts. We don't modify the valve bodies or anything tho, just replace everything how it was. A house brand kit with The high temp stuff is about $90ish from Northern auto parts. We use lots of stock replacement parts store kits too.

[sbx22]

Thanks farmboy. That's good to hear. A friend of mine offered to help me rebuild it, possibly a route I'll take but still unsure at this point.