Problem Connecting the transmission to the Engine

[djergensen]

Hey guys,

I am in the final stages of my stroker rebuild. And I can not for the life of me get the engine to connect with the transmission properly. Its almost as if the shield that protects crap from getting in the housing is jamming on my flexplate. I am assuming that the measurements for the 87 4.2L crank that I used are the exact same at the 4.0 crank that I am replacing? The problem is that once I cinch down all 4 bolts connecting the t and Engine, the crank wont turn over an inch. LIke something is jammed or not measured right.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

DJ

[SilverXJ]

Make sure the toruqe converted is full seated in the transmission. Push it in to the transmission while rotating it.

Make sure that that aluminum piece isn't being pushed out by a core plug or oil plug on the rear of the block.

[djergensen]

OK,

I worked on it for quite a while today. It is still stuck. Something is not coming together right. Basically, when I tighten the bolts to the bell housing down, at about 1/8 gap - everything completely binds. The engine won't turn over. We even tightened the torque converter bolts town on the flex plate, then tightened the bell housing bolts down the same thing happened.

We measured everything, and all of the gaps and widths are the same as the old engine. So something is not right. Any ideas?

One idea that we had is that in my tightening down of the bell housing, I had the pilot to the torque misaligned and I jammed it into the transmission. Could that have bent something in the tranny?

I am at a loss. Any help would be much appreciated!

[Retlaw01XJ]

Make sure the torque converted is full seated in the transmission. Push it in to the transmission while rotating it.

Keep,doing this^^^^.
The converter needs to engage the tabs in the front pump. If it's not positioned right, the converter will be too far out.
Try pulling the converter out a bit (1/8"), rotate it an inch or so, and push it towards the trans again. Repeat till it seats properly. When the converter/pump tabs line up, the converter will drop into place.

[djergensen]

So I need to do this before the I try to connect the engine to the tranny... Rotate and seat... then align the engine to the tranny?

[SilverXJ]

Yes, that should take care of the issue.

[purple_jeep]

At least for the 42RE the FSM says the threaded flats on the torque converter that the flex plate bolts to should be 1/2" lower than a straight edge held across the bell housing.

Cheers

Chris

[IH 392]

You may have to lift up on the torque converter as you're spinning and pushing on it, it's not into the pump, it's against it, you'll be lucky if you haven't already damaged it!?

[djergensen]

Any ideas on how I will know if I have damaged the pump?

[djergensen]

Alright... Well. I couldn't get the Torque converter seated, so I pulled it out. And much to my dismay, I crushed the teeth inside the Torque converter. So, I am out to buy a new torque converter... or a used one. Anyone got one to sell me?

The spline in the transmission looks good still. Actually, they look great. So, I am just hoping I didn't push that spline into the transmission. Anyone know how far that spline is supposed to stick out? Right now it is 2 5/8 inches out from the housing.

[SilverXJ]

I have a spare rebuilt torque converter. PM me if interested.

[djergensen]

Thanks for checking in Silver. I already bought one.

I am taking the tranny in to the shop tomorrow to have them look at the pump. The more people I have talked to, the more convinced everyone is that I did damage the gears on the pump. Better to be safe, than sorry!

[djergensen]

An update for anyone that has this issue in the future.

My gears inside my pump were fine. Somehow I got lucky on that one. The master builder/tranny specialist that opened it up told me that it is very rare that the pump gears are not damaged when the torque converter gets shoved in like that. He did replace the bushing which was extremely worn and replace a few seals. Cost me 170, 95 of which was his time, 50 for a torque converter flush and test for the used torque converter I bought from a used parts store.

So, I will be putting it in tomorrow...

[SilverXJ]

I'm surprised as well that you didn't damage the pump. Not like a torque converter is cheap.

[djergensen]

Final Report...

It went in perfect when I went back to install... Easy as butter.

Got the stroker running this weekend!!! And there was a ticking noise by the tranny. Found that the tin plate that separates the tranny and engine had gotten bent in my fiasco with the torque converter. So if anyone has issue in the future, make sure the plate is straight... It sure gave me a scare when I started the engine for the first time!!!

I will be making a thank you post soon about my stroker build... whew! 2 years, and a whole lot of learning. I couldn't have done it without you guys!!! I am so stoked that it is finally working!! I have spent hours on this site. Pretty cool to see it come to completion!