Seating Torque Converter

[bornaRAMblinMAN]

So the guy who rebuilt my trans said the torque converter should be seated when the pads measure 1" back from the bell housing with a straight edge. The book says 1/2" back at the hub. Everyone online says 1/2" back at the pads. I have it seated so it's 5/8" back at the pads and 3/16" at the hub.. I have tried for more than an hour to get it seated more but it won't go any further.

Does anyone know for sure how far back this should be seated, or how to tell for sure? I have watched multiple YouTube videos and I keep trying to lift, wiggle, shake, and rock it into place but AFAICT it is all the way in..

 

[bornaRAMblinMAN]

I think I have it seated. This video explains it well, I have the tabs from the pump lined up and I can hear them click when I rotate it.

 

[TMyers]

Did you feel the slots on the converter hub engage the pump? A quick check would be to measure the back of the motor to the holes in the flywheel with a straight edge. It should be close to your 1/2" to 5/8" that you have on the transmission/converter measurements. After you get the motor and the transmission mated, the converter should move easily to align the first converter bolt.

 

[bornaRAMblinMAN]

OK, I think I am starting to wrap my head around it. The slopts engaged, I am going to measure to double check and just be sure tthe converter spins and isn't bound up before tightening the case.

Much appreciated TMyers, thanks. Just trying to be extra cautious, I have heard horror stories.

 

[Redtruck-VA]

No need to over think this. Sliding the tq converter in and seating the pump is obvious when seated. Bolting up the trans to the engine should be done carefully, rotating the converter insuring there is clearance between the flexplate and tq converter pads. When the trans is fully bolted up to the engine, the tq converter should have 3/16"-1/4" gap to the flexplate. I mention this because there are A518-46rh installs being done more frequently using aftermarket flexplates or engine/trans shims to acheive proper clearance.

 

[bornaRAMblinMAN]

Yeah, I knew I was overthinking, it just seemed strange that the Haynes manual and the guy who rebuilt it were off on a spec, but random people on the net were right.

The flexplate to converter bolts are 7/16"..so it ended up being immposible for the converter to be back 1" because they wouldn't reach. The flexplate was 7/16 out which left a 3/16 gap.

Thanks for the help, I really do appreciate it.