Help... Ugh.... Torgue Coverter won't slide forward towards the flexplate?

[Mike Phillips]

Help... Ugh.... Torque Converter won't slide forward towards the flexplate?

The TCI Flexplate for a 454 Gen VI engine with a forged steel crankshaft came today so I bolted it on and then proceeded to bolt on the transmission and transfercase.  While installing the transmission I check a couple of times to make sure the torque converter was spinning freely and it was.

After I bolted the tranny tight to the block the torque converter now binds in a couple of places when I try to spin it and there's about a 5/16 to 3/8 inch gap between the torque converter and the flexplate and it doesn't seem to want to slide forward any further.

Anyone have a clue as to what the problem might be?

Is it possible that I have to get a different torque converter for this style crankshaft?

The transmission is a 700R4 from either a 1985 or 1986 Blazer, it was one of the last styles that did not need the computer brain.

Not that this helps but here's a picture of the fruit of my labor.



Ugh....

 

[VileZambonie]

No pilot bearing in there right? Flexplate is on the right way? Did you push the converter forward at all with a small prybar?

[Mike Phillips]

No pilot bearing in there right? Flexplate is on the right way? Did you push the converter forward at all with a small prybar?

I installed the flexplate in the same manner the old one came off, that is there's a little lip that seats on the crankshaft hub and it's pointing towards the rearend.  There were two stickers on the flexplate one declaring it to be SFI certified, the other just a TCI sticker, these ended up pointing towards the block so you can't see them.

I'm pretty sure I installed the flexplate correctly.  Installing it the other way would make the pads where they meet the bolt holes on the torque converter further away instead closer.

[Mike Phillips]

I took a photo of the back of the engine before installing the flexplate and one after installing the flexplate, hang on and I'll upload them and post them to this thread.

I tried prying very lightly with a long screwdriver but the torque converter doesn't seem to want to move back or forward.

[Lt.Del]

flex plate same amount of teeth as old one?

[Mike Phillips]

did you try turning the converter several times while pushing in on converter into the trans?

Yes.

Tried pushing the torque converter back and also pulling it forward while spinning it and it didn't seem to move at all.

 

[Mike Phillips]

These were taken with my iphone, they are full size so what you see is what I got.






 

[Mike Phillips]

trans flush w/ block?

Yes.

I installed it by myself using an ATV Jack and because the frontend is rolling on steel wheels with no tires the ATV jack had plenty of lifting height and it actually matched up and bolted up fairly easily. 




I checked for binding and gently rocked and shifted the tranny around as it came against the block and there were no tranny to engine binding issues.

[choptop]

Kinda looks like there is a pilot bushing in there. Hard to tell

[Mike Phillips]

This engine was originally built for and going into  this boat.




The engine is a 454 Magnum Marine Engine, not sure if that would make it different than a car engine as far as the back of the crankshaft is concerned.


Tomorrow, first thing in the morning I'll remove the transmission and t-case and then inspect everything.

 

[VileZambonie]

You're sure the converter engaged the pump, stator support and turbine?

When you drop the trans see if the nub on the converter fits into the back of the crank and allows you to mount the converter to the flexplate.

[Mike Phillips]

You're sure the converter engaged the pump, stator support and turbine?

Pretty confident.  I rotated the torque converter while pushing it into the transmission and felt it go clunk as it slid in further and further till it bottomed out.

When you drop the trans see if the nub on the converter fits into the back of the crank and allows you to mount the converter to the flexplate.

That's the plan.  Going under the truck as soon as I finish this Rock Star.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Far shot:  Man climbing out from under an old Chevy truck as the sun starts to rise in the horizon.

Slow zoom-in as he begins to speak...


"I love the smell of transmission fluid in the morning"

[Mike Phillips]

Well I don't know what was going on with all the different components but after removing the transmission and transfercase I took some emory cloth and cleaned up the hole in the back of the crankshaft where the torque converter alignment hub rides, applied a little motor oil and then reassembled and everything seems to be lining up and meshing together now.

At least everything is clean and easy to work on.

Thanks for the help guys...

[Lt.Del]

glad the hear that.