dhale

I have professionally rebuilt tranny that is going on my rebuilt 305... i bolted the torque converter to the motor, no problems. i put the tranny on the torque converter and got all 3 "clicks" so i know its seated properly. I went to bolt the bell-housing up and i had a 3/8" gap between the block and the housing. I tightened the tranny to the motor and now they are perfect, no gap. My question is the tranny bolted up a little tough, will this hurt my tranny at all? Also i am using a th 350 converter that came from a th 350 tranny that was previously on the motor. ( the 350 tranny bolted right up no problems)
any help at all would be great. thanks -Dom

Nowhere Man

A turbo 400 behind a 305. Talk about over kill

Plasticman

Dom,

You may of damaged the trans. There are alignment slots that must be engaged on the torque converter to the trans front pump. If they are not properly engaged when you pull the trans up with the bell housing bolts, damage will occur (the converter is being spaced forward by this non-engagement with the front pump). Never pull up a trans with those bolts (be it a manual or auto trans)! If it does not "slide home", then something is wrong.

Proper method is the install the torque converter onto the trans input shaft, push the converter rearward while rotating the converter until you feel it engage the slots. Then assemble the trans & converter assembly to the engine. You probably will then see a gap between the converter and the flexplate (normal). Then move the converter forward and install the converter bolts.

Good luck,
Plasticman

dhale

I did exactly as you posted pretty much step by step. I even spent another two mins rotating the converter and pushing it rearward to make sure i caught the tranny pump. But i still had the gap between the motor and tranny

62vetteman

I'm not sure if this is causing your problem. Do you know what year the 350 trans was buit. A 350C trans used from 80-85 with the lock up converter has a shorter stator support shaft ( larger splined shaft sticking out of the front pump ) than the earlier non "C" 350's. The longer 350 -400 shaft might be causing the converter to sit out further. Like I said not sure just throwing out some ideas !
Erich

dhale

Well over the weekend i dropped the tranny and pulled the TC out. When i did that i heard a clinging noise from inside so i managed to wiggle it around and found what looks like two big washers floating around in there. So i grabbed the 400 TC, after inspecting it i put it on the tranny and absolutely perfect! no gap. from flex plate to the bolt holes on the TC was 5/16". torqued it all down and good to go.
Thanks for all the help! Dom