I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this question, but here goes: 351W/C4. 157 tooth flexplate. Stock type converter. I assembled the trans and engine together and everything went fine. The converter fully seated and bolted to the flexplate no problem. After putting it all together I realized that the converter has two bolt head type things (small drain plugs?) directly across from each other spaced exactly between the converter to flexplate bolts. My flexplate only has two holes for access to these bolt heads and I installed it without verifying that they were showing. I went down there tonight and verified that indeed the converter would need to rotate 90 degrees for these bolt heads to be aligned with the holes through the flexplate. Do I need to take it apart and align these? If they are not drains, does it matter their orientation? Everything bolted up easily and spins freely. Also, is loc tite necessary on either the converter to flexplate nuts or the flexplate to crank bolts?
Corbin are you sure the drain plugs are not being forced up against the flywheel. If you believe they are, you can remove the converter bolts and try to spin the converter, if it won't turn then plugs will have to be relocated and lined up with holes. If that is the case, having already removed the converter bolts, you can loosen the transmission bolts enough (without having to remove them) and pull tranny back enough to create space between converter and flywheel. This should enable you to turn converter and line up holes. If plugs are putting pressure on flywheel this is a must to do as it will bend or break wheel and the starter alignment will be off. :Handshake Good Luck P.S. having done this many times (but had been awhile for a C4), I have never used loc tite on either one. But that's just me.
Thanks for the info. Yeah, I believe the plugs are being forced up against the flexplate. Good suggestion on loosening the bellhousing bolts enough to slid it back enough to spin the converter 90 degrees. Boneheaded move on my part, and I was pretty sure I'd have to redo it. Thanks for confirming.
Corbin I am not familiar with the 351 crankshaft but if I am not mistaken the bolt holes for the flexplate go into the engine and need sealant put on them or else motor oil will leak out. Hopefully I am wrong
All bolts that are used to mate flywheels or flexplates to the crank have to have sealer or loc-tite on the threads. Pull the transmission, remove the flexplate to crank bolts, re install them using either blue loc-tite or loc-tite #518 dealer on the threads. Install the transmission making sure that the drain plugs line up with appropriate holes. It is time well spent and it is better to do it now than later.
