rwh1764

just replaced transmission & went thru all gears checking linkage while on jack stands. It ran for more than 30 minutes & verified everything was lined up, installed according to procedures in Haynes Manual. Took off jack stands, started engine & after about 3 - 4 minutes, heard loud grinding noise that almost shut engine down due too bind the engine was end, I'm guessing. Took transmission back out, checked torque converter & compared to original old one, appeared the end nipple had little wear from rubbing, I'm assuming. anyway just got it back in, made sure the nipple went inside the hole on drive plate. completed installation, started engine while on jack stands, again everything worked fine. Shifted thru all gears, no noises. Took off jack stands, started engine & very same thing, acted as if engine was in bind, extremely large grinding noise like metal to metal, so I stopped & simply raised body of vehicle 1 downward motion on jack, raised body approx., 1 - 2 inches if that, then restarted engine, started up fine, no grinding noises, went thru all gears while again body was barely raised up, minimal weight on jack - barely raised (tire still on ground) no noise / no rubbing or grinding sound, all seems fine!!!


I originally thought the drive plate may be damaged but after closer inspection while the transmission was out, it appeared fine, didn't see any cracks on plate, only a few small gouges that were originally caused when the drive plate to converter bolts were not tightened up all the way, 1 caught on top & had to bump the drive plate w/ a punch too break loose so could reach it. There were 2 gouges made w/ a punch but did not see any cracks noticeable places.


could there be something on drivers side knuckle causing this? I also removed the front sub-frame when removing transmission, therefore removed the entire radius ends on both sides. Failed to see how or if the nuts were tightened up all the way, so tightened them about 2 inches or so, think they are suppose too be torqued but just trying anything to try & determine if its something I did wrong w/ torque converter or suspension / motor or transmission mount issue? Again, engine starts up fine as long as a floor jack is used to raise it approx. 1 - 2' if that, 1 time down using floor jack, just enough to take pressure off front of engine, I'm guessing??? does anyone have any ideas what I did wrong & or whats causing drivetrain to bind up? thank u 4 any help!!

MAD_MIKE

Did you verify the two hollow dowels were installed on the engine bellhousing before installation.

Did you verify the torque converter was fully seated into the transmission before installation?
With the transmission installed you should be able to spin the torque converter without any binding before bolting it up to the drive plate.

Did you verify the starter is not hanging up and staying engaged?

rwh1764

thanks 4 ur reply!! yes everything lined up perfectly & also made sure the nipple on converter lined up in bearing hole on engine side. however I wasn't quiet sure about torque converter installation but after numerous times placing it on the shaft, discovered there was only 1 way to install it & or was all I could discover. It always would push back a little further up too a point which u could hear it rubbing against transmission housing but when u lightly pulled it forward, then spun it around, sounded as if u could hear it picking up fluid.


Again, when its jacked up just 1 time on drivers side front jack point, the engine starts up no binding & seems to shift in all gears. However not sure if it has right amount of torque since hasn't been driven & cant be till figure out whats causing the issue. So far seems like it might be the flexplate / drive plate??? only thing I can determine, any other input would be greatly appreciated. Plan to start taking it back out tomorrow evening to try the flexplate, if I can find one from local junk yard, just trying to be sure this is last times, since have failed twice already. thanks again

RedTRex

Only difference in the situations is that with the wheels on ground the converter now has a load on it - sounds like possible bad converter.

rwh1764

thanks 4 ur reply, any help is greatly appreciated. would a bad converter cause the trans & engine to bind up so tight, the engine barely turns over. which is what happens when on ground? do u think that a bad i.e., cracked or broken flexplate / driveplate would cause this issue? Inspected & didn't see any cracks but if u perform a few test, when shifting from neutral to reverse every once in a while, there's a slight grind which is part of test of damaged drive plate & I also used a punch during 1st install to move flexplate approx. 1/4 - 3/8" & it caused lil damage on plate. which I filed down the 2 burrs it caused. Also maybe I didn't line up torque converter properly? is there a certain procedure? thanks again!!

MAD_MIKE

Converter to flex plate mating has no special clocking.
Cracked/broken drive(flex)plate would not make a grinding sound, but it would make a banging or clanging sound as the converter is loaded.

If the transmission pump was bad or the interface on the TC was damaged it might cause some grinding sounds.