Bolting 1fze to a343 help needed-real time

[69LC]

I’ve done this before and can’t remember how...

What is keeping the torque converter from the last inch of engagement?

I’ve been rotating the flex plate a bit at a time and trying to find the “majik” spot, but it’s nit working.

 

[Tedward]

Maybe try putting the torque converter on the trans first. Then mate the motor trans. That's how I got it. There is a fsm measurement you can use to tell if the converter is seated all the way. Flat edge across the bell housing and some measurement to the t/c.

 

[69LC]

Doh! Good idea!

 

[69LC]

So I pulled it back apart, went to the hardware store for some long bolts to make into guide pins.

 

[Tedward]

Yup. Did that as well.
Remember trying to bolt it together before I measured the depth of the t/c. That's a no no.

 

[shocktower]

I hope you did not trash the seal always TC connected to tranny otherwise damage to the seal, also is it in all the way, there is a drive key way on the TC, where did you get the TC is it the right one ??? . Again I hop you did not trash the nose seal in the transmission

 

[69LC]

So another question:

When I finally got the engine and tranny bolted together the converter and flex plate were too tight together to rotate them to get the 6 bolts into the converter.

I had to back the bellhousing bolts out about 1/4” to get the two to rotate separately.

Should I have any concerns about too much pressure on any related components if I bolt the two assemblies back right?

 

[69LC]

I hope you did not trash the seal always TC connected to tranny otherwise damage to the seal, also is it in all the way, there is a drive key way on the TC, where did you get the TC is it the right one ??? . Again I hop you did not trash the nose seal in the transmission

It’s the OEM TC, and I too hope I didn’t trash the seal...

 

[shocktower]

So another question:

When I finally got the engine and tranny bolted together the converter and flex plate were too tight together to rotate them to get the 6 bolts into the converter.

I had to back the bellhousing bolts out about 1/4” to get the two to rotate separately.

Should I have any concerns about too much pressure on any related components if I bolt the two assemblies back right?

View attachment 1952487

You should not have any problems . But can you get it all together ??

 

[scottryana]

I don't think your torque converter is seated all the way onto the transmission. You need to seat the TC to the transmission before you start pulling the transmission and engine together. If anything is too tight there is a problem.

 

[shocktower]

Maybe try putting the torque converter on the trans first. Then mate the motor trans. That's how I got it. There is a fsm measurement you can use to tell if the converter is seated all the way. Flat edge across the bell housing and some measurement to the t/c.

You always have to have the TC on the transmission otherwise you could destroy the seal, and most times you do

 

[69LC]

I was able to get the TC to seat into the keys before reassembling the engine and tranny.

It’s been together, but like I wrote above, I had to back them away from each other 1/4” to get freedom of movement between the flexplate and TC.

I have a lot invested and don’t want to trash anything.

 

[White Stripe]

Are you sure the flex plate is not backwards on the crank? Do not force it together. If the flex plate/crank does not spin smoothly independently of the torque converter something is wrong.

 

[White Stripe]

Put some anti sieze on the nose of the torque converter and the dowell pins too to aid installation. Make sure the torque converter is fully seated into the transmission pump or you will kill the transmission pump.

 

[shocktower]

I was able to get the TC to seat into the keys before reassembling the engine and tranny.

It’s been together, but like I wrote above, I had to back them away from each other 1/4” to get freedom of movement between the flexplate and TC.

I have a lot invested and don’t want to trash anything.

You might have a bur on the flex or TC , also a little grease on the nose of the TC helps too

 

[White Stripe]

Looking at your picture I can't tell if the flex plate is backward or not, its too dark. The torque converter should seat in the transmission similar to a distributor seating into a oil pump if that helps. The torque converter has a 2 prong fork on the end that engages into the pump. Just spin it while applying light pressure and you should feel it push in another 1/2" when the fork lines up.

 

[69LC]

Ok, I think I’ll pull it all back apart and get a new TC seal just to be safe. This one has 300k on it.

Thanks guys!

 

[69LC]

@White Stripe the flex plate isn't on backwards, but I didn't put it on either so I'm not sure about whatever spacers and stackup should look like. I also was able to get the TC keys to engage into the tranny oil pump as well.

 

[69LC]

Does anyone have pics or a diagram of how the flex plate should be mounted? Are there any spacers that the engine shop could have put between the flex plate and crank instead of outside the flex plate? Could that be a source of the 1/4" of interference?

 

[69LC]

So I grilled dinner, the kid is cleaning up and I pulled things back apart. There are no extra spacers between the flex plate and crank.

The tranny input seal still looks intact, but I will replace it Monday or whenever I can get one.

I’ll post back up once the new seal is in and hopefully someone can chime in about the bellhousing to TC mounting face distance.