Struggling with V8 engine install: Torque converter to flex plate

Discussion in 'Technical' started by chuth, Jun 17, 2020.

  1. chuth

    chuth Member

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    My son and I are working on a V8 swap for his Maverick. Today we were working on installing the V8. The car was a 250 straight six with a C4 transmission. We left the C4 installed in the car. We got the engine alignment pins engaged with the transmission bellhousing and got 4 of the bellhousing bolts started. The torque converter bolts are aligned with the holes in the flex plate. We started tightening the bellhousing bolts but something got bound up and the torque converter bolts never came through the flex plate enough to get a nut on it. We backed off the bellhousing bolts and fiddled around with lifting and lowering the engine and/or the transmission, but never got the torque converter bolts to come through the flex plate. We've never done a swap before, so we are flying blind. Any suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks.

    Chad & Harley
    IMG_6944 (002).JPG IMG_6945 (002).JPG
     
  2. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    Sounds as if you are installing engine correctly.

    Did you test fit the flexplate on converter prior to installing on engine?

    Is the hub on converter, same size as opening in back of crank? That & too thick flexplate is about only thing that will prevent studs from coming through.
     
  3. chuth

    chuth Member

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    You nailed it. We pulled the engine back out and discovered that there was a pilot bushing in the crank for a manual transmission (rookie mistake). We've pulled the bushing and are about to try to reinstall the engine. Thanks!
     
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  4. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    Knowledge is what you gain when results are not what you expected.... ;)

    Glad you got it figured out.
     
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  5. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    one more thing to look for...make sure the converter is seated in the pump (3 clicks) before pulling the bolts all the way down on the bellhousing .
     
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  6. jasonwthompson

    jasonwthompson Member

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    My torque converter had a drain bolt on the face of it. The flexplate had a hole to accomodate this bolt so it would not touch the flexplate. So what I am saying is in my case you could not simply line up one of the torque converter studs with a hole in the flexplate. The converter had to be indexed correctly with the plate to fully seat against it.
     
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  7. chuth

    chuth Member

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    (y)
     
  8. chuth

    chuth Member

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    Good point. Thanks!
     
  9. baddad457

    baddad457 Member

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    Don't be surprised if the transmission doesn't work now. You may have broken the gear in the front pump when you tightened those bolts and got it in a bind. That gear is pretty fragile, it's hardened but brittle.
     
  10. Mustang1989

    Mustang1989 Member

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    You wouldn't be the first and you dang sure aint gonna be the last guy to make a mistake like that. I've seen some really good technicians over the years do stuff like that so try not to sweat it too much. You got it all figured out and that's what matters. Look on the bright side.....it'll make for good conversation later. [​IMG]
     
  11. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    anyone remember when I went through about 8-10 front pumps?
    found out the new bellhousing was 50/1000 out of center. that caused a side load on the pump and they would go out anywhere from 50-125 miles. put the old bellhousing back on and ...:thumbs2:
     
  12. chuth

    chuth Member

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    So far it seems OK. We haven't driven it on the street yet, but we put it into drive and reverse while idling on jack stands with no issue.
     
  13. chuth

    chuth Member

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    Definitely!
     

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