I'm changing the TH400 in my car and found something strange when I went to install my used TCI Street Fighter converter. There's a disc that seems to be loose down in the bore where the tranny shaft fits. This disc seems to be loose to rattle around until the shaft is put in place. There's no similar part on either of the stock converters that I have. I'm swapping out the transmission because of a slipping problem at low speeds with a cold tranny. Concensus on the board here was that the trans itself was slipping, probably not a converter problem. The fluid was pretty dark even though it had only been in the tranny for about 1,500 miles. I just want to make sure that the converter is not roached. There's a pic below - the part i'm talking about shows up as a "half moon" in the top part of the bore. Is this normal?
Howdy, I think its called a "Sprag gear" and it does have some play in it. But wait till someone with tranny knowledge posts a sure answer.
Correction - This is a "Breakaway" converter, not the street fighter. They advertise a "heavy duty anti-balloon plate", is this what I'm seeing?
John, I wouldn't use that converter. I've never seen anything loose in any converter I've ever looked at. Anti ballooning plates are just reenforcement plates(on the outside, I believe) that help to prevent the converter from expanding, and pushing the crank. I would try shooting Meanbuicks a pm. He works for TCI, and can tell you for sure. You are probably wasting your time replacing the converter, your slipping problem sounds like it is inside the transmission. Converters usually have problems with the stator, or simply get trashed sending metal through the trans.
