Thread: Th350 experts needed....help!!!

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I thought we found the solution tonight, but it didn't end up that way. We removed the 3 torque convertor to flexplate bolts and spun the convertor while it was up touching the flexplate, there was no resistance at all, it spun as if it wasn't connected to the pump inside the trans. Then I turned the TC while applying pressure to the rear and it dropped back 3/16 of an inch and seated into something, and there was resistance when you turned it by hand.

I think the guy from B and M said there should be no more than 1/16 inch between the TC and flexplate when installed, so that the bolts only pull it up that far and not out of the pump lugs. So we made up some 3/16 shims to go between the TC and flexplate and bolted it back up. Started the engine, and still not pumping anything or engaging any gears.

So, possibly running it without it being engaged damaged the pump. I think I remember seeing round plates that go between a flexplate and the crank flange, and maybe that is what we omitted originally. In any event, we don't want to even see the car for a while, until we feel like pulling the body and getting the trans out so we can take it to a shop.

This car hobby is SO much fun.

Thanks again to all who offered help.

Don

A litle update. Spoke to Jackson Performance Transmissions today, they didn't realize this one is the BOP bolt pattern and they have none of those in stock to send us. They say they are hard to come by. So, we are going to palletize Dan's and ship it up to them at their Ohio facility, where they will go through it and repair whatever is wrong. I think that is very fair of them, in fact, more than fair since we bought it at least 4 years ago.

Don is going to be needing a C4 for his 46 project, and I hope he goes to them for that one.

Dan's new 9 inch rear center section came in today (4:11's this time) and this weekend will be spent pulling the body off and installing the rear end. We've decided Billetproof is out of the question, so now we can slow down a little and stop killing ourselves to get the car running. Dan and I both need a rest.

Don

You can make it--we do more work than that between rounds of racing

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

You can make it--we do more work than that between rounds of racing

Yeah Buddy

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

You can make it--we do more work than that between rounds of racing

We've talked about that subject a million times, Jerry. We have no idea how you guys rebuild an engine or other stuff between rounds! It takes us a month to do what you guys do in 20 minutes. Maybe that's why we aren't in the race game.

I learned something today. I called Mondello to see if they had the correct 3/16 spacer to go between the flexplate and the crank flange to take up that extra room. The guy told me they shim their race car by putting grade 8 flat washers between the flexplate and convertor to the proper thickness. He said they try to leave about only 30 thousands clearance for the convertor to slide forward once shimmed. I told him we did that last night for a temporary fix but were worried about it being a weak spot long term. He said "We use that on our 1200 hp drag car, so what do you think?"

So when the trans comes back we will shim it exactly like that, along with some longer grade 8 fine thread bolts that fit well. Live and learn.

Don

Dan brought up an interesting point. He said why go through all the hassle of boxing up and shipping the trans back to Ohio (not to mention the shipping cost) when we could just have it checked out and fixed by some local shop. I was reluctant because some of these places really like to sell you a lot of stuff you don't need once they tear into your transmission, but the more I think about it the more sense it makes.

I called a local shop today and told the guy what we had going on and he seemed pretty straightforward. Said he sees a lot of these where the front pump gets messed up on installation and he suspects that is what we have. So maybe it will be quicker and better to just pull the trans and take it in to them early next week and see how that goes. They can't try to sell us too much work as it is a totally fresh, built trans with zero miles on it.

Going that route might even allow us to get the car operational in time for Billetproof. Dans brake hoses and the new rear center section came in yesterday, so we have things we can be doing while the trans is being fixed. Maybe we aren't dead in the water yet.

Don

Of-course you and the lad ain't dead in the water yet,you gotta be positive Don as you and Dan have struggled too long trying to get it done you can not give up yet. I would give the local chap a try and as you said if it is only the front pump,it shouldn't be too expensive to fix that as the rest of the trans is new. I wish you all the best for a easy outcome fella's.

I'm late into this but it reminds me of a rebuild I did when I was 17, a few years ago . My Chevelle did the same thing. Did you ever pull the governor like Pat mentioned? Or are you confident its the TC? My governor was stuck. After I monkey'd with it it started working fine and I got many years of use out of it.