So, as you can see by the link currently in my sig, I had a bit of an engine catastrophe. I've got the new shortblock built, heads are all done except for valve springs... I might have it fixed up by the weekend. Well that was my thought anyway. It's looking like next weekend now. Anyway, I took out the destroyed engine today. I expected to find carnage and was not disappointed. Oil pan was ripped apart, block broken on both sides, at least one broken piston. One wasted rod, another rod nowhere to be found. Broken camshaft, seized oil pump, busted pushrods and a soup in the oil pan consisting of lifter pieces and other bits of twisted metal. I expected all that. I did not expect my torque converter to be jacked up. When the cam broke it pushed out the back of the block. It chewed up three of the converter mounting studs and broke one completely off. Flexplate condition is yet to be determined... It's a decent converter. Hughes 2500 stall. I'd like to save it if I can. Is this the sort of thing I can get fixed somewhere, or do I just need to accept it and buy another converter?
ship it back to hughes. they will fix it. also tell them about your new motor and they should be able to make some tuning adjustments on it to perform better with you new motor. if you dont want to wait or pay for the shipping, then find a local converter builder and have them do it. now hughes is a good converter company so i wouldnt hesitate to have them do it.
You can try to locate a torque converter company close by. We have one in Dayton, Ohio that rebuilds old torque converters as well as building and refurbishing them. The company is called CVC. Might be worth a look!!!! http://cvcconverters.com/about_us.html
I'm putting that same converter (from summit) in my car. Have you been happy with it before the explosion?
Absolutely. It did great behind my 302 and the old 351, for I guess about three years now. Stalls a little lower than advertised of course, light car and all, but it's done the job consistently. I'd buy another one. I may have to...
Sounds good. Summit was trying to talk me into a little higher stall but I thought the 2500 would be better for street use. I am hoping to find out in the next few days. Maybe by the end of the week.
Not to be a "Debbie Downer" but I live in Phoenix, about 10 miles from Hughes. Pass it every day on my way to work. I bought a valve-body from them about 5 years ago. I replaced the stock one that I, personally, rebuilt. Because of poor attention-to-detail, metal burrs/shavings were left in the shift rod tunnel which were not found until after my tranny seized up at 40 mph. during the test drive, throwing my car into a full 180 spin in the middle of the road and my ass-end ended up on the sidewalk colliding with several newspaper stands trashing my rear passenger-side quarter panel. After putting my old valve body back in, I went back to Hughes only to have the counter rep blame me for a shoddy install. I proceeded to tell him that I rebuilt my own tranny and drove my vehicle there on the valve body I rebuilt. We took the Hughes valve body apart, right there on the parts counter, and found the burrs in the shift rod tunnel which caused my tranny to lock between gears. Guy told me he could refund my money, and that's all. I said, "Then who the hell is gonna pay for my quarter panel damage?!" He responded with, "Well, you could have taken the valve body apart, yourself and damaged it during the install. I have no way of knowing that and, therefore, Hughes cannot be held accountable for damages." I then said, "It was a simple bolt-in valve body. Take the old one out and put the new one in... why would I take it apart?" After a brief dispute, I left with my refund. Not saying all Hughes stuff is bad, but, this was my personal experience with them. I told the rep I would explain to people what happened every time I got the chance so they would know how I got shafted. I am holding true to my word. Eric
