Engine install help quick!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
Engine install help quick!
After several hours of my wife and I trying to get the engine mated to the transmission, we finally got it. However, now I cannot move the torque converter to get it lined up with the flexplate.
Also, I have the transmission to engine bolts in an about halfway threaded. The transmission and engine are almost all the way together and it seems like I still have a significant way to go for the motor mounts. Please tell me that these are the wrong mounts.
Please let me know if there are any tips to get the flexplate and torque converter connected. Also let me know what you think about the motor mounts.
Here are the pictures:
Engine as it sits right now.
Driver side mating progress.
Driver side motor mount
Passenger side mating progress
Passenger side motor mount
Also, I have the transmission to engine bolts in an about halfway threaded. The transmission and engine are almost all the way together and it seems like I still have a significant way to go for the motor mounts. Please tell me that these are the wrong mounts.
Please let me know if there are any tips to get the flexplate and torque converter connected. Also let me know what you think about the motor mounts.
Here are the pictures:
Engine as it sits right now.
Driver side mating progress.
Driver side motor mount
Passenger side mating progress
Passenger side motor mount
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Did the engine and tranny slip together that far or did you have to pull it together with the bolts? That is a bad sign that the engine and t/c wont turn independently. The two should not be forced together as engine/ trans damage could result.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
You don't have the torque converter fully seated in the tranny - you need to remove the engine and seat the converter, or else you will break the ears off the front pump gear tangs and destroy the tranny.
With the engine out of the way, you need to rotate the converter while gently pushing on it. It will "drop" down several "notches" into the tranny front pump. When it is fully seated, you cannot get a finger up between the rear surface of the converter and the tranny casting at the bottom edge. I'll bet right now that you have over a 1/4" gap and that you can probably get a finger in behind the converter... Once the converter is fully seated, you can mate the engine to the tranny and the converter will spin freely. Hopefully, you haven't tightened the bellhousing bolts enough to bend your flexplate or crack the tranny case in the current condition.
Lars
With the engine out of the way, you need to rotate the converter while gently pushing on it. It will "drop" down several "notches" into the tranny front pump. When it is fully seated, you cannot get a finger up between the rear surface of the converter and the tranny casting at the bottom edge. I'll bet right now that you have over a 1/4" gap and that you can probably get a finger in behind the converter... Once the converter is fully seated, you can mate the engine to the tranny and the converter will spin freely. Hopefully, you haven't tightened the bellhousing bolts enough to bend your flexplate or crack the tranny case in the current condition.
Lars
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
The parts finally lined up and the male plug slipped into the female opening on the tranny, but I could not push it together closer because the motor mount tab was resting on the motor mount connection on the frame. Therefore, I installed some of the bolts and pulled the engine closer. I still did not pull it all the way because I have not been able to get the torque converter, flywheel issue resolved. I did not want to get it all together and not be able to connect the two.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
You don't have the torque converter fully seated in the tranny - you need to remove the engine and seat the converter, or else you will break the ears off the front pump gear tangs and destroy the tranny.
With the engine out of the way, you need to rotate the converter while gently pushing on it. It will "drop" down several "notches" into the tranny front pump. When it is fully seated, you cannot get a finger up between the rear surface of the converter and the tranny casting at the bottom edge. I'll bet right now that you have over a 1/4" gap and that you can probably get a finger in behind the converter... Once the converter is fully seated, you can mate the engine to the tranny and the converter will spin freely. Hopefully, you haven't tightened the bellhousing bolts enough to bend your flexplate or crack the tranny case in the current condition.
Lars
With the engine out of the way, you need to rotate the converter while gently pushing on it. It will "drop" down several "notches" into the tranny front pump. When it is fully seated, you cannot get a finger up between the rear surface of the converter and the tranny casting at the bottom edge. I'll bet right now that you have over a 1/4" gap and that you can probably get a finger in behind the converter... Once the converter is fully seated, you can mate the engine to the tranny and the converter will spin freely. Hopefully, you haven't tightened the bellhousing bolts enough to bend your flexplate or crack the tranny case in the current condition.
Lars
I'll go check the spacing. What about the mounts?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
If you can get your fingers in there, you're not seated. Pull the engine and seat the converter by rotating it and pushing on it. It will drop back another 1/2 inch or so, and you will not be able to get your fingers in there when it's correct.
Lars
Lars
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 14
From: LaMoille Illinois
One other thing to note, If the engine isnt seated with the mounts in the correct position it maybe leaning one way or the other binding the convertor against the flexplate? Thats why i use an engine leveler when installing a motor It makes life a hundred times eaier!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
I'll bet the mounts will drop into place once you get the engine fully engaged into the tranny with the converter pushed all the way back. Do that first and then take a look at the mounts.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Not likely. His converter is not seated - it's too far forward, so he's off by one notch on the rotation and not fully engaged with the front pump drive tang.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
From the "top" position, the converter actually drops down in 3 steps when you rotate it enough times. The last step drop puts the converter lower rear surface almost into contact with the tranny lower edge, and in this position, the converter will be about 3/8" back from the surface of the flex plate, allowing the converter to spin freely with the engine bolted to the bellhousing. You can then pull the converter forward into contact with the flexplate using your fingers.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 833
Likes: 4
From: Mexico NY
Cool support group...
I hope you guys are available when I make a complete idiot of myself trying to put an engine in my car.....
That or I'll have a reward case or two of beer for after the job is done available at my house hehehehe... please note that I said AFTER... not that anyone would get hurt or do a worse job... I just think that we would end up working on the case more than the car hehehe....
timg
That or I'll have a reward case or two of beer for after the job is done available at my house hehehehe... please note that I said AFTER... not that anyone would get hurt or do a worse job... I just think that we would end up working on the case more than the car hehehe....
timg
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
The converter had one more notch to go. This time, it only took about 15 minutes to get it in and seated. Much easier. The driver's side motor mount is on, but the passenger side is still off by about 1/2 inch. I removed the jack from under the tranny and released the tension from the hoist.
This may be a stupid question, but are these mounts left side and right side? They looked identical when I put them on, and I didn't even think to look.
This may be a stupid question, but are these mounts left side and right side? They looked identical when I put them on, and I didn't even think to look.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Bolt the engine up to the tranny bellhousing and make sure the two parts "suck up" tight. Re-verify that the converter spins...
You should now be able to lift the engine up just enough to take the pressure off the engine mounts and "jam" the engine/tranny assembly back into position so that the mount drops into place. You often have to put a little force on the engine and do a little wiggling to get things to line up and drop into place. But from the looks of those mounts, it ought to go.
On a couple of engine installs, I've had to loosen the mount at the block to give it a little "wiggle room" and then tighten it back up after the mount was engaged - you can try that to see if it helps.
You should now be able to lift the engine up just enough to take the pressure off the engine mounts and "jam" the engine/tranny assembly back into position so that the mount drops into place. You often have to put a little force on the engine and do a little wiggling to get things to line up and drop into place. But from the looks of those mounts, it ought to go.
On a couple of engine installs, I've had to loosen the mount at the block to give it a little "wiggle room" and then tighten it back up after the mount was engaged - you can try that to see if it helps.
