Thread: Installed new 2800 stall - whining when in neutral

Tweet

Guys,
I finally got around to swapping the 4000 stall out of a '69 Nova that I just bought. I put in a 2800, but when all was bolted back up and we topped off the fluids and ran it through the gears a fairly loud metallic "whine" happens when in reverse. The other gears were all quiet. We decided to take it slowly around the block when we didn't see anything leaking, couldn't find anything we forgot, etc. It ran great and responded very well at driving speeds (unlike the 4000 race converter), but started making the sound in drive as we approached my driveway. I even thought that maybe the trans brake was the culprit, but it works fine.

Any thoughts? This was the last thing I expected to happen.

Thanks everyone...

check your fliud if low if not i have had two stalls do this when new they were bad and trash the trans

Thanks Pat. The fluid was very low at first. I'll check it again tonight to ensure that I topped it off.

The thought of going through this again so soon is giving me heartburn already...

yes it sounds low go thru all gears and then top it back off

As much as I hate to say it, the tranny is topped off with fluid and the sound remains in forward and reverse gears. I'll likely go out and check the flexplate for cracks tonight or tomorrow. Any other thoughts guys? I really hate the thought of pulling this thing after just putting it in on Saturday.

@##$^&*%#@!!...

Flexplate cracks usually knock, not whine. There isn't much in a converter that will whine. Did the trans pull up against the block good and tight? Sounds like a misalignment problem.

I guess I would classify it as a chirping sound and not a whine, but I'll take a look at the tranny alignment as well when I go out.

It's hard enough to troubleshoot over the web, so I guess it would help if I could at least describe the sound accurately!

Thanks for the help...

Yeah, if its a chirp not a steady whine it could be a cracked flexplate.

Originally Posted by R Pope

Yeah, if its a chirp not a steady whine it could be a cracked flexplate.

What else could cause a "chrip"? I have a TH350 with a new flexplate and get a slight chirp when i give it gas in reverse only. I thought it was in the transmission.

the converter slipping on the flex plate some makers use a slot hole .i drill them out for a 1/2 grade 8 fasteners i have seen them move so much that the converter is worn in to the fly wheel were it bolts up

i've had a chirping eat my tranny pump before, was caused by the input shaft not being properly seated on reinstall

Ouch! The input shaft did come loose during the install. I guess I'm pulling again to check things out.

If it were a flexplate issue, would it also chirp in Park and Neutral? Mine only seems to be making the sound when in forward or reverse gears.

Most common noise cause is front pump. Especially after a converter is removed. Could be shaft or converter alignment.

Thanks for the input everyone. This is my first experience with an automatic, and I'm already remembering the "gold old days" of my Muncie 4-speed. I guess after a few more weekends of work on this one I'll have it down too.

After reading all the posts and pretending I'm not as blind as my wife says I am, did I miss out on which tranny this is? I do doubt my sanity from day to day, but I can not find where in this thread he stated what the transmission was.............