#1  
Old 05-29-2023, 07:07 PM
spectramitch's Avatar
spectramitch spectramitch is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: MI
Posts: 106
Default Flex Plate Bolts Hit TC

I wish I would have inspected this a year ago when I pulled my engine for the first time. My torque converter was hitting my flex plate bolts. I rebuilt my engine and am ready to re install and get it running. I took the TC off to check and see how to address the clearance of the Flex plate bolts when I noticed a lot of large metal shavings in the TC and around the input shaft. What could be going bad from this added pressure to the trans? Bad pump? Is this something I can maybe fix myself? Theres probably no way of flushing out the TC so ill need a new one? The trans was running fine when i pulled the engine but I feel horrible about running a new engine behind a blown tranny especial in the current state of the trans community.

  #2  
Old 05-29-2023, 10:16 PM
Mean Green's Avatar
Mean Green Mean Green is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Victorville, CA
Posts: 300
Default

Did you set the converter gap when you installed the converter?

If not, the converter was probably not engaging deep enough in to the front pump.

__________________


www.lancablingsolutions.com
  #3  
Old 05-29-2023, 10:34 PM
chiefbigb chiefbigb is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: richmond va usa
Posts: 1,484
Default

I bought a trans specialties convertor years ago that hit like that. I called them and they said in larger units the bop was different. Swapped it out.

__________________
Be carefull of the feet you step on today.They may be attached to the a$$ you kiss tomorrow.
  #4  
Old 05-30-2023, 09:29 AM
chuckies76ta's Avatar
chuckies76ta chuckies76ta is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 3,093
Default

When I noticed a lot of large metal shavings in the TC and around the input shaft.

First thing that has to be done now is Transmission, Transmission lines, tranny cooler and torque converter all have to be cleaned. In other words, Transmission has to come apart and be inspected and rebuilt. There are clearances that have to be checked when installing a converter. 1/8" to 3/16" gap between converter and flexplate with converter fully seated in transmission. Pilot on converter has to be checked for engagement. Flexplate bolts checked for interference. Another step over looked is spinning the converter before bolting to flexplate to check for binding in crank.

__________________
68 Firebird. IA2 block, 505 cu in, E-head, Solid roller 3650 weight. Reid TH400 4:11 gear. 29" slick.
Best so far 10.12@133 mph. 1.43 60 ft.
76 Trans am, TKX .81 o/d, 3.73 Moser rearend,
468 with KRE D-ports, Doug headers, 3" Exh.
  #5  
Old 05-30-2023, 03:26 PM
Dragncar Dragncar is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Humbolt County California
Posts: 8,313
Default

" a blown tranny especial in the current state of trans community " !!!
Forgive me, I had to say it.

OK, the transmission needs to come apart. Shiny stuff in the fluid is not good. T400s are pretty easy. Loose it good, tight bad.

  #6  
Old 05-31-2023, 06:10 AM
steve25's Avatar
steve25 steve25 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Westchester NY
Posts: 14,719
Default

With the amount of dish that's in the face of that converter where the bolt head marks are it looks like you had the flex plate bolted on the Crank the wrong way , or where you using flywheel bolts to hold the flexplate to the Crank ?

__________________
Wernher Von Braun warned before his retirement from NASA back in 1972, that the next world war would be against the ETs!
And he was not talking about 1/8 or 1/4 mile ETs!

1) 1940s 100% silver 4 cup tea server set.

Two dry rotted 14 x 10 Micky Thompson slicks.

1) un-mailed in gift coupon from a 1972 box of corn flakes.
Two pairs of brown leather flip flops, never seen more then 2 mph.

Education is what your left with once you forget things!
  #7  
Old 05-31-2023, 07:37 AM
JSchmitz's Avatar
JSchmitz JSchmitz is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Union, MO
Posts: 2,137
Default

A competent converter rebuild place can cut it open, clean it out, and reweld it. You probably just need to put a grade-8 washer between the converter and the flexplate. Make sure the pilot has sufficient engagement in the crankshaft and the converter has sufficient engagement in the pump. Plenty of good install procedures out there. One should have come with your converter.

  #8  
Old 05-31-2023, 10:43 AM
chuckies76ta's Avatar
chuckies76ta chuckies76ta is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 3,093
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JSchmitz View Post
A competent converter rebuild place can cut it open, clean it out, and reweld it. You probably just need to put a grade-8 washer between the converter and the flexplate. Make sure the pilot has sufficient engagement in the crankshaft and the converter has sufficient engagement in the pump. Plenty of good install procedures out there. One should have come with your converter.

It's not that simple as putting a washer between flexplate and converter. Distance has to be measured.

__________________
68 Firebird. IA2 block, 505 cu in, E-head, Solid roller 3650 weight. Reid TH400 4:11 gear. 29" slick.
Best so far 10.12@133 mph. 1.43 60 ft.
76 Trans am, TKX .81 o/d, 3.73 Moser rearend,
468 with KRE D-ports, Doug headers, 3" Exh.
  #9  
Old 05-31-2023, 10:55 AM
JSchmitz's Avatar
JSchmitz JSchmitz is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Union, MO
Posts: 2,137
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckies76ta View Post
It's not that simple as putting a washer between flexplate and converter. Distance has to be measured.
The fix IS that simple. Or it usually is. I know it needs measured. That's why I suggested an installation procedure. I also said the verify engagements. That's usually done by measuring.

  #10  
Old 05-31-2023, 01:04 PM
PAUL K's Avatar
PAUL K PAUL K is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Sugar Grove IL USA
Posts: 6,326
Default

I came across a situation like that before. No matter what I did something wasn't right. I started off by using low profile flex plate bolts. Finally pulled the converter and sent it to Midwest to have it corrected (most shops didn't want to touch it because it "wasn't their product"). The guy told me the "geometry" was off, he corrected it and sent it back. Everything fit perfectly after the geometry was fixed.

__________________
Go fast, see Elvis!
www.facebook.com/PaulKnippensMuscleMotors
The Following User Says Thank You to PAUL K For This Useful Post:
  #11  
Old 05-31-2023, 03:21 PM
spectramitch's Avatar
spectramitch spectramitch is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: MI
Posts: 106
Default

I spilled some trans fluid lol and I have the transmission off to a guy to be checked out. Let me re-state that this is my first time since buying the car 5 years ago I have taken this engine/trans apart. I measured the amount that those flex plate bolts were crushed and it measures at about .100" So my flex plate was bent around those Flex plate bolts for at least 5 years. Pretty nuts its lasted that long. I'm wondering if this could be a possible cause of my cracked crankshaft.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_7434.jpg
Views:	126
Size:	115.7 KB
ID:	613479  

The Following User Says Thank You to spectramitch For This Useful Post:
  #12  
Old 06-01-2023, 05:51 AM
spectramitch's Avatar
spectramitch spectramitch is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: MI
Posts: 106
Default

Anyone ever use an FTI transmission? I see summit has some in stock with an ultrabell on them. Does an ultrabell for a TH400 have the BOP holes in it? Thats what it looks like. Im looking for other options if my trans is going to be an expensive fix and I need this car running and driving in a couple weeks.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fti-th400-4ub

  #13  
Old 06-01-2023, 08:48 AM
grandam1979 grandam1979 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Ohio, Findlay
Posts: 1,437
Default

They make short head bolts for that stock ones are big.

  #14  
Old 06-01-2023, 12:43 PM
Dave Polichena's Avatar
Dave Polichena Dave Polichena is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Lake Worth FL
Posts: 546
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by spectramitch View Post
Anyone ever use an FTI transmission? I see summit has some in stock with an ultrabell on them. Does an ultrabell for a TH400 have the BOP holes in it? Thats what it looks like. Im looking for other options if my trans is going to be an expensive fix and I need this car running and driving in a couple weeks.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fti-th400-4ub
I run an FTI Glide, zero issues. Their work is good and customer service is top notch.

Yes, the Ultrabell is drilled for both bolt patterns

__________________
Dave Polichena
  #15  
Old 06-15-2023, 09:53 AM
spectramitch's Avatar
spectramitch spectramitch is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: MI
Posts: 106
Default

Does anyone run a Coan 20320-2 converter in their Ponchos? How do you like it? This is what they recommended and im wondering if its overkill.


http://www.coanracing.com/coa-20320-...per-sprag.html

  #16  
Old 06-15-2023, 10:32 AM
PAUL K's Avatar
PAUL K PAUL K is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Sugar Grove IL USA
Posts: 6,326
Default

Don't know enough about your combo. It does bother me when companies call their 258 mm converter a 10" converter. A true 10" uses a more expensive core and has been around for fifty years. The 258 mm is a newer core that is being developed to replace the 10" due to the 10" inch core supply drying up.

They can both be made to work and Coan offers a quality product.

__________________
Go fast, see Elvis!
www.facebook.com/PaulKnippensMuscleMotors
  #17  
Old 06-20-2023, 10:46 PM
tanksteve tanksteve is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: sacramento
Posts: 134
Default

having the same problem with a new Coan converter here. Both factory and ARP flexplate bolts hit the converter. Cant shim it as it is already within specs. so get to send it back and wait for whatever fix it might get

  #18  
Old 06-20-2023, 10:57 PM
chuckies76ta's Avatar
chuckies76ta chuckies76ta is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 3,093
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tanksteve View Post
having the same problem with a new Coan converter here. Both factory and ARP flexplate bolts hit the converter. Cant shim it as it is already within specs. so get to send it back and wait for whatever fix it might get

Any chance you could post a few pics of the front and back of the converter? I ordered a 9" inch from them and had the same issue your having and I had to send it back to be revised. It cost me shipping for their mistake. Wasn't happy about that. They had to change the back cover. Thanks.

__________________
68 Firebird. IA2 block, 505 cu in, E-head, Solid roller 3650 weight. Reid TH400 4:11 gear. 29" slick.
Best so far 10.12@133 mph. 1.43 60 ft.
76 Trans am, TKX .81 o/d, 3.73 Moser rearend,
468 with KRE D-ports, Doug headers, 3" Exh.
  #19  
Old 06-21-2023, 08:15 AM
PAUL K's Avatar
PAUL K PAUL K is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Sugar Grove IL USA
Posts: 6,326
Default

You should consider calling PTC they can help. Coan is not the company it once was.

__________________
Go fast, see Elvis!
www.facebook.com/PaulKnippensMuscleMotors
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to PAUL K For This Useful Post:
  #20  
Old 06-21-2023, 08:35 AM
PAUL K's Avatar
PAUL K PAUL K is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Sugar Grove IL USA
Posts: 6,326
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckies76ta View Post
Any chance you could post a few pics of the front and back of the converter? I ordered a 9" inch from them and had the same issue your having and I had to send it back to be revised. It cost me shipping for their mistake. Wasn't happy about that. They had to change the back cover. Thanks.

I remember that. If I recall correctly they wanted you to pay for their converter not fitting properly but then came to their senses. Did you get an explanation why it didn't fit initially?

__________________
Go fast, see Elvis!
www.facebook.com/PaulKnippensMuscleMotors
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:39 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017