Torque converter installation trouble

[BrandOmatic]

Trying to set the torque converter in the transmission. it\'s a TH350 trans and a B&M torque converter.. it seems to be as far in as it can go. The instructions say to lay a straight edge across the face of the bellhousing, and measure from the face of the torque converter drive lug to the straight edge. The picture is pretty shitty but the drive lug is those 3 metal plates where you put your bolts and nuts through to connect it to the flexplate, correct? It has to be at least 7/8\" or it\'s not in far enough. Mine\'s a little over 3/4\" but not quite 7/8\".... I don\'t know what the problem is. My dad looked at it, he said if the torque converter can spin freely w/o binding on the flex plate when the trans is bolted to the motor, then it should be in far enough. So we tried testing it that way and it won\'t spin freely unless we loosen the bellhousing bolts a lot and leave a big gap between the engine and trans. Really need some help here, i don\'t know what the problem is.

[Truckman91]

When you install a TC, you need to spin it as you install it, and it should feel 3 bumps. The pump, turbine, and stater. Thats how you know its in all the way

[bowtietd]

Rotate the converter clockwise as you lift and push it into the trans. It should fall into the trans in steps. Make sure the end of the crankshaft is clean. Even a little corrosion can cause the converter to bind against the crank where the center \"button\" meets the crank. The converter should spin freely with the trans bolted to the engine.

[BrandOmatic]

Yeah thats what my dad was doing, holding it in the center, pushing and spinning it.. it just stops dead. If i pull it straight out 1/2\" or so, and slam it straight in, it seems like theres no way it\'s going in anymore because you get a metal to metal thud. The crankshaft is brand new, so thats not the problem. When installed onto the motor, it won\'t spin because it gets hung up between the raised pads on the flex plate where you put your bolts through.. So it must not be in far enough. Is it also a possibility i got the wrong torque converter??

[BrandOmatic]

Called northern and B&M tech line.. they said it must be misaligned or whatever, to send it back and get a new one. At this rate the truck will be done sometime summer of 07\'

[Scotty_S-15]

Don\'t give up that easy, try it once again, then once more for good measure. Sometimes they can be cranky and difficult. Did you try like Bowtied said? And the results should be like Truckman said, but sometimes not as easy as bump, bump, bump. Sometimes some swearing in between the bumps... http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

[BrandOmatic]

yeah we messed with it for an hour or two last night, and a couple minutes today. i\'m getting a new one.

[92sdime]

Sometimes you can take a scribe or something similar and lines the splines up in the torque converter. This makes the installation a lot easier.

[Terrybneal]

Ive had torque converters that will just slide in place and then I have had some be real nightmares. I dont want to insult your intellegence, but are ya sure your flex plate is on the right way.I am 46 years old and been messing with chevys for a long time, I just put a trans in my 72(changed from standard to auto)and I had a memory lapse, I guess, cause I put the flex plate in backwards.It caused the problem ya are having. Just one more thing to check.Good luck! http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif

[FastBikesRule]

I had the same problem with my truck. I bolted up the trans, bumped the starter over and the converter went right in.

[BrandOmatic]

hhhmmm.. now you guys got me second guessing it.. The Tech guy at B&M said that it must be defective and i should return it for a new one.. You guys got me thinkin though. I\'m pretty damn sure the flex plate is on right, but i\'ll check again. The thing that worries me is that it sounds like metal to metal (seated all the way) if i pull it out 1/2\" then shove it straight back real hard and makes a metal to metal dunk. The measurement from bellhousing face to face of the drive lug is not enough.. It\'s very close, but no cigar. Maybe i will try bolting it all together, hooking up the starter to a battery and bumping it over, i don\'t fricken know but this is a bunch of horseshit i tell you what.