Seating converter - TH400

I've turned a Saturday afternoon tranny swap into a month long ordeal.

Latest question regards seating the torque converter into the transmission.

First, let me say that I have the trans in place and aligned on some extra long bolts, pulled back so that there is a couple of inches clearance between the flex plate and the converter. I am proud to say that I managed this myself with a floor jack and nobody helping. I'm not anxious to drop the transmission and start over.

I decided to go "by the book" and looked up the "official" dimension from the face of the converter to the bellhousing face - TCI has 1-3/16" listed on their website, and states that you need 1/8" of clearance for the converter to slide up to the flex plate.

My measurements show 1-1/16" from the converter face to the bellhousing face, and 7/8" from the face of the flex plate to the back of the block where the bellhousing bolts up.

So I should have the 1/8" clearance between the converter and the flexplate, but I can't seem to get the torque converter in any further. I have the same situation on the transmission and converter I just pulled out of the car - I have been "practicing" with it and I can't get that converter to seat to 1-3/16" either.

Is it important that I get the converter any further in, especially since it's going to slide back out to reach the flexplate anyway?

Help an aging Buick brother out.....

 

There should be 3 distinct clicks when the converter goes in. DO NOT bolt it up if the converter is not all the way seated. Is this a non-sp converter, stock 13 inch unit? With the converter all the way in, you should not even be able to get your finger tip in between the back of the converter and the bottom of the trans.
Also, what engine are we talking about here? Nailheads have a different spec as far as front of converter to bellhousing. Jim Burek

 

Thanks Guys

Do you guys have any tricks to get the converter seated? This is supposed to be a fresh but older TCI rebuilt transmission with a lightly worked TCI converter.

Jim -

This is a non-SP converter of unknown stall. It measures about 12" diameter, thinner than a stock 13" unit but thicker than my busted 11" TCI Breakaway converter. I'm working with a 455 motor. There's room for a finger between the converter and the bottom of the trans.

Larry -

I have not bolted the trans in place yet, but by measurement I'd have 1/8" or so from the converter pads to the flexplate.

 

Buick 535 is right about the 3 distinct "clicks" or clunks however you want to refer to them. I spin the converter slowly as I push it backwards. The first two move it back a little bit less than the third click. It should be almost all the way to the back of the bellhousing.

 

3rd "Click"

If Willy is right - that the last "click" is the biggest - I think I've got it.

BTW Willy, I visited Bloomington a month or so ago for the big 10 swimming and diving championships. Nice town, especially the Irish Lion.

 

Yeah it's a pretty new place...but I tend to stay away from the college bars. That and the local authorities there are pretty tuff on DUI's. Hope you get the tranny figured out.