72 blazer trans/torque converter/flywheel ?

[Jamminjohn]

Hi Guys, I have a 72 K5 4x4.
I have started it a couple of times(not driven yet) , but now the starter makes a terrible grinding noise.

I heard it maybe the flywheel being on backwards, I did some research and i think it was. So I loosened the motor, pulled it from the trans ans flipped over the flywheel. Now the problem is, the motor does not come flush with the bell
housing and its not aligned with the motor mounts.


A little history on the blazer.

PO started a frame off restore.
I believe the motor is newer then 72 ( I went to buy a starter for a 72 K5, and it had a different bolt pattern)

I do not know if the trans (th350) is original to the year or not.

Is it possible that my trans/torque converter do not match up with the block? Its only off a half inch or so.

I also have had to shorten the drive shaft that the blazer came with a few inches.I plan on dropping/loosening the trans and transfer case tomorrow to see if it give me any more wiggle room.



thanks,
John

[Cohl]

Did you change the starter first to see if that was the problem? Maybe the torque converter slipped out a bit when you pulled the motor and is not seated all the way.

[jjzepplin]

Your flywheel should have "nubs" that face toward the torque converter where the bolts go through it. If you have had it together before it should go together now.
As stated above you may have the torque converter not seated all the way. Careful here as you need to make sure you do this by hand and do not force it. There are a couple recesses in the converter that need to line up with the trans internals or you will trash the pump. When installed properly and trans bolted to block you should be able to spin the converter by hand and pull it a small amount (maybe an eighth to quarter inch) toward the flywheel to mate them up and bolt to together.
Your starter is usually the culprit when you hear grinding and it may just need shims or proper alignment with the flywheel.

[Jamminjohn]

I believe the bellhouse to the block has always had a 1/4in gap.


Can you tell me if this looks seated correctly?

[Ol Blue K20]

If the torque converter is seated correctly. .and the block and bellowing bolted together you should be able to move the torque converter freely and have at least a quarter to. half inch between flex plate and converter. ..if not the torque converter is not seated and or flex plate is backwards. ..

[Cohl]

The bell housing should bolt up flush to the block. There shouldn't be a gap between those two. When I installed my engine, I don't think my t/c was seated correctly either. I loosened up the block a bit , but let a bit of tension in them, and turned the flywheel by hand untill I felt the t/c seat up all the way. All good after that .

[Jamminjohn]

ok, i dont think its seated correctly, because it is not moving freely.


Is it possible that the t/c is the wrong one? is there a way to verify?

is there a trick to seating it correctly while the trans is installed in the truck?


thanks

[warbucket]

From the pics I don't think the converter is all the way in. When I did mine I couldn't get my fingers between the converter and the trans. To get mine in I marked the converter on the engine side were the two slots are. If you use a flash light you can see the pump slots in the trans just past the seal, I marked the outer bell housing and then lined up the converter with the bell and it fell right in.

[Twisted78SS]

it should go without saying, but i would refrain from running the engine until you solve this, it is the best and fastest way to ruin the pump on your transmission.

There should be no gap between the block and transmission, and as mentioned the flexplate not 'flywheel' should have raised areas that the tabs on the convertor locate to for the attachment points. Take a look at this pic, it is installed correctly.


As you can see, the torque convertor should bolt to the raised tabs. (two visible in this pic) Some convertors have threaded holes, while others use a bolt, washer, and nut.

Hope this helps,

[Jamminjohn]

Ok, I have pulled the trans(boy what a *****) and now I think the t/c may have seated.

I do remember when I started the blazer a few weeks ago, there was a high pitched whining sound after about 5 minutes( I actually thought it was the stater at the time, because the ignition was broke and I was using a screwdriver to start it and it was getting stuck in the start position)
. The bellhousing was separated from the block about 1/4" when this happened, the "flexplate" was also backwards, I am wondering if I killed the trans pump?

Here are pics of it pulled from the truck and possibly seated this evening:

[jjzepplin]

SO you started the engine without the trans being fully attached to the block?

[Jamminjohn]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

SO you started the engine without the trans being fully attached to the block?

I believe so.

[Jamminjohn]

Do you think its ruined?

[jjzepplin]

Well maybe -maybe not. Probably should take the trans out and check for damage to the pump or converter. You may be able to just slide it back to get the converter out and take a look inside. You will see once it's out the slots in the converter that need to be aligned to the pump and why. I guess you could just google some images too.

[Jamminjohn]

I have pulled the trans and can now seat the T/C correctly, I believe.

[jjzepplin]

What does the shaft end that goes into the tranny look like?

[Jamminjohn]

shaft end of the T/c?

[jjzepplin]

Yup. Gouged up- Rough in any way- Scraped etc?

[Jamminjohn]

ill check as soon as I get home.

[Jamminjohn]

Looks ok to me.

[Jamminjohn]

agreed?

[jjzepplin]

I would say so.
I would run it.
Just make sure it's good and seated while you bolt up the bell housing and moves freely afterward.
Take a good look at your flywheel and you should see a crankshaft "shadow" or markings which will tell you the correct side to put towards the block.
I wouldn't start anything until it's all bolted together.

[Jamminjohn]

Lifted the trans up and tried to bolt it up and the flexplate hit the t/c before I can bolt it in.

Any ideas?

I guess its possible that its not seated all the way, there is about a half - 1 inch gab between the t/c and the bellhousing.

It feels like it wont go in any more.

[Ol Blue K20]

Spin and push it should go back some more

[jjzepplin]

YUP. You have to line up those two slots on your T-C with the pump innards. Give it slight pressure and turn and it should find it's way in about another half to three quarter inch.