I was just told the reason the torque converter I installed in the trans was probably not seated all the way in before I bolted up the trans and that was the reason I have no clearance between the flexplate and converter. What could I have damaged or did I damage anything? I have not started the truck yet...would the damage be only to the converter or would it be to the front pump of the trans also?

 

If the converter isn't seated all the way you can still pull it together with the bell housing bolts but doing this will shove the hub against the pump gear. You need to pull it apart and inspect the front pump for any damage and then put it back together. The converter needs to be three steps in. I believe this will leave about 3/8" clearance between the converter and the flexplate.

If you don’t fix this then the pump gear will eventually crack resulting in low/no pump pressure, which will prevent any of the gears from engaging.

--Steele

 

What do I look for when checking front pump damage or gear damage? Thanks for the reply...I plan on pulling it back out this weekend.

 

You need to look at the flats on the converter for any damage, even minor nicks in the flats can be trouble, or a sign of it, the main issue is the pump gear, which can be shattered or fractured even if you never started the engine. To access the pump gear, you need to remove the 11 or 12 (different models) 10mm bolts on the back of the pump need to be removed, then you "seperate" the pump to inspect the gear inside, their is an inside gear and an outside ring, usually it breaks the inner gear.
If you never started the motor, this gear is all that needs replaced, (shoot me an address I have them in stock, the set is $42 shipped), if you started the motor, even for just a second, it could have distorted the pocket and the pump needs to be replaced. This is all independent of whatever damage you may have done to the converter.

Hope this helps,

G

 

Thanks Greg! I will pull out the trans this weekend and look for the items you suggest. Are their any special tools needed to remove this gear or pump? Or can this be disasembled with reg. hand tools?

 

Well after pulling the trans out this pass weekend I had to yank the converter off the shaft. When it came off I found little pieces of spline all over the shaft where the converter was not seated all the way on. This happened when I turned the crank to line up the holes in the flex-plate. I don't know whatelse maybe damaged but I will be sending the converter back to PI to have it checked out. Bright side of this mess is that I called Chickenears today and have a Monsterbox with the Total Domination converter on the way!!! Chickenears was kind enough to allow me to send him back my FTVB and 4x4 pan that I never installed...what a great guy to deal with. So whenever I get the PI converter back from them (have not shipped it yet) I'll turn it loose to the highest bidder. Thanks Greg for your help...I could have gotten the stock trans fixed but I really wanted one of yours to put behind the beast...I know you stand behind your products 110%.
Bill