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Drag Race Torque Converter Clearance Tech Question?

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Old Nov 19, 2006 | 07:53 PM
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Default Drag Race Torque Converter Clearance Tech Question?

Hello, I have a Turbo-400(Ultra Bell) Tans with an 8" converter.
Is there a prefered distance from the balloning plate on the converter and the front pump of the transmission when the converter is installed? I just installed a new 8" race converter and I believe there should be at least 125 thousands worth of clearance between the two. Any thoughts?

Has anyone used one or two flat washers perhaps 70 thousands thick when bolting the converter to the flexplate? That seems to be the easiest way to change the clearances.


Thanks,

Joe
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Old Nov 19, 2006 | 10:11 PM
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I'd be happy with .125. As long as you have some and it spins free all is good.

I like to use washers to keep it as far back in the trans as possible.


JIM
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 09:26 AM
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You not really engauging any more tranny shaft spines to shim the TC closer to the tranny. Shimming would change the total amount of contact surface from TC to flex to the dia. of the proposed .070 washers.

I've personnally never used one, but I have a friend that swears by that thin finned plate that would also work as a shim. It has vains to act as an air moving fan as everything rotates. I just did the old method and took a 2 inch hole saw and cut through the top of the bell housing to let heat up and out of the TC area.

8 inch is getting into serious heat.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by 427Hotrod
I'd be happy with .125. As long as you have some and it spins free all is good.

I like to use washers to keep it as far back in the trans as possible.


JIM
Jim,

Thanks, we are on the same page. It's nice to get on this forum and get a second opinion.

Take care,

Joe
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by gkull
You not really engauging any more tranny shaft spines to shim the TC closer to the tranny. Shimming would change the total amount of contact surface from TC to flex to the dia. of the proposed .070 washers.

I've personnally never used one, but I have a friend that swears by that thin finned plate that would also work as a shim. It has vains to act as an air moving fan as everything rotates. I just did the old method and took a 2 inch hole saw and cut through the top of the bell housing to let heat up and out of the TC area.

8 inch is getting into serious heat.
I am trying a B&M race cooler( 28,000 GVW) to keep the tans and converter cool for street use.

Thanks for the reply,

Joe
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 12:31 PM
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GKULL...I'm not worried about the splines....I'm mainly worried about getting it as deep into the front pump lugs as possible. There are mfg tolerances on many aftermarket converters and pumps and I've seen cases where they don't seem to engage very deep. I want to use as much as possible.

JIM
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by 427Hotrod
GKULL...I'm not worried about the splines....I'm mainly worried about getting it as deep into the front pump lugs as possible. There are mfg tolerances on many aftermarket converters and pumps and I've seen cases where they don't seem to engage very deep. I want to use as much as possible.

JIM
I really never gave shimming much thought. I've always used SFI flex plates that are thicker to begin with. So they would move the TC back slightly.

JoeC427 - I also removed the 3/8 brass reducers coming out of the tranny and used full 1/2 inch SS lines and B&M tranny cooler 8 X 11 X 1.5 inch with 1/2 inch input/output.
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