Hey guys,

I should have posted this sooner, instead of wasting many hours on car trying to diagnose the problem. I'll lay out first what kind of issues im having, and what ive done to troubleshoot.

Driving home from work I noticed a prominent knocking sound while accelerating under a bridge. It happen to catch my attention because the radio was actually OFF for once. I started to pay close attention to it for the remaining approximately 2 miles home.. It sounds almost like a spun rod bearing.. It isnt as loud as a main.. The noise only appears upon revving of rpms, not at idle... I have tested it in all gears.. The noise is present in all BUT reverse.. Another thing I noticed while i took it for a short drive (about 2 more miles) was that the transmission is shifting into its gears at a different MPH as before. This sparked the idea that perhaps the converter/tranny was going out.. I then removed the inspection plate and checked the torque/fly bolts.. One of them was fairly loose (but still required a wrench) to remove... I cleaned that up and threadlocked it.. Started motor - knocking is still present.

This is where things get a lil weird.. After letting the car cool - I removed all the bolts from the converter and pushed it as close to the tranny as possible.. I then fired the motor.. I have done this in the past on other vehicles and never had a problem.. to be honest - I dont know if its a good or bad thing.. Anyway... The sound appears to be gone for the most part.. I am hearing some odd noises on occation - but thats because the converter is flopping around on the shaft...

Has anyone had a similar experience, or can someone help me out with this? The car has 178k on it - and I know that the converter/tranny have atleast 100k on them for thats how long ive owned the car.. Chances are - Its the complete factory parts from 84.

Any input welcome... I was considering buying a converter and sticking it in there to see if that was the issue - I however do not want to through money at a sound not knowing the real issues.

IF it turns out to be tranny - I need some input on converters/ tranny shops in the Orlando Florida area.. I have heard mixed reviews about MadDog Tranmissions.. So input please guys?! I want this back on the road lastweek!

Please help!!

 

The only thing I can think of is possibly a cracked sun shell. This is a common failure part. Especially on high milage or high powered cars. 95 and later years are worse than the earlier years, for some reason. However, when they break, the trans is usually toast. The fact that yours still runs down the road confuses this possibility though.

 

I have never heard of that part.. New to me.. Ill do some research..

Thanx!

 

It is a hard part in the center of the trans. It is shaped like a big round bell, and other hard parts spin inside of it. The reverse input drum splines onto it also. Pretty important part. Some trans shops refer to it as the "cookie cutter"

 

Interesting - I however do not plan to tear tranny apart to take a peek.. Hopefully someone else will chime in..

 

There is a thrust washer (bearing) at the back of the sun shell or "drum"...It may have come apart....That would allow the drum to move front to back...

This would also explain why it doesn't do it in reverse...the drum is being pushed forward in reverse if the bearing is gone.

I have a feeling you need to tear into it before it takes something else out and costs a bunch more...

I nextel'd my bro (Chrysler Tech) and he agrees based on what you've posted here.....

The 700 is a very easy tranny to rebuild and a hard rebuild kit is under $300 with performance clutches

I've enclosed a pic of the drum

Check out this site.....I got everything from them for my GTA tranny Build.

Jesse

 

ttt... any other advice guys? Its almost 9am.. about to start making calls to local shops for pricing..