I bought a really nice billet torque converter. There are no pads so the front bolts directly to the flexplate. I have to use spacers on the three bolts in order to clear the balance weight. This pushes the converter away from the crank so that the snout is barely in the pilot hole. Flexplate is OEM. Is this an issue?
This is way more important, https://www.taperformance.com/PDF/Converter_Instructions.pdf https://www.tciauto.com/auto-trans-faq# (#4 and #5) With the converter fully seated in the transmission, do you have the proper clearance between your spacer, and the mounting face of the converter?
Interesting procedure to "allow the TC to self center" - I'll have to do that. Good question: "You should have 1/8" (.125") to 3/16" (.1875") between the torque converter and flexplate before pulling the converter forward and bolting it to flexplate." So I need to measure between the spacer and the TC face. Thanks!
Does the converter you bought have a screw on pilot?.. Mine do, which allows you to put an extended pilot on if needed. Allows guys to add a midplate in the future, or an adapter plate in the case of the 700 and 4L80E converters, to fit on a Buick engine. My converters are built slightly shorter than the spec, with the fact in mind that we have to shim between the flexplate and the converter to clear the balance weight. I have found that the stock length pilot still engages the rear of the crank. For a while, we were using 1/4 inch extended pilots, till I had a chance to study this, and found that not necessary. So bottom line, if it is built to the correct height spec, and you have some freeplay when you shim it back, you should be fine. JW
I went back and did a more careful mock-up. It looks like the pilot goes into the crank 1/8 - 5/32". It is one of yours and appears to have a screw on pilot. I would feel better if there was more pilot inside the crank. I'll call you Jim.
