Broken Flex Plate

[justinburnett]

Alright, got the engine out, flex plate replaced (had to do some grinding cause the new one wouldn't fit. There was a little casting mark or burr or something and it wouldn't slip on). Engine's back in now, and the torque converter DOES turn freely, but something that's bother me is: there's about a quarter inch between the new plate and the torque converter. Is there supposed to be so much room? I don't remember. I know I got the new plate on the right way, and it looks the same as the old one.... could I put some washers or some kinda spacers in, or will it pull forward a little bit, or am I just totally screwed cause I took the hoist back and I don't have any help anymore, my friend had to go to work.

Here's a picture of the gap. I have to run somewhere but I'll be back in a half hour or so so hopefully someone can tell me by then cause if this isn't going to work, I don't know what to do.

[motornut]

no washers

[motornut]

there should be some in out play but not much if it's not leakin yer good
this all has to be balanced,can't use washers
does it not slide toward the flywheel?

[motornut]

it's gotta be bolted together flush

[justinburnett]

I haven't tried to pull it out to meet the flex plate. I'm pretty sure there's some play in it but I didn't know if i should move it out. Guess I'll go see if it'll slide enough. Yay for adventures.

So if this doesn't work.... do I have to pull it all back apart and go find a new flex plate or.... what? Wish me luck!

[motornut]

does it not match?hole for hole ,gear for gear,n size?
this is mine

[powerdriver 1958]

You can pull the converter up to the flywheel and be fine

[babyJay]

I agree, you should be able to slide it back out to meed flush. Looks like you're doing a fine job.

[87chevy.com]

Dont forget to change the rear main seal... its right there ant wont take much more to change it now, than later... if the TQ converter happens to fall out or come foward... make sure its absolutly seated before you push the trans to the engine, you will destroy the front pump. good rule of thumb is once its seated, you cannot get a finger between the TQ converter and the housing... (no room).
clint

[hitcher]

i feel your pain dude . i did mine a couple months ago and learned the hard way . it actualy took me 3 attempts to get it right . first time i had put the flex plate in the wrong way round . second time a buddy was helping me under the truck while i was leaning over the engine . he told me everything was fitting ok and to go ahead and bolt the trans back up . well it wasnt the right plate from the parts store and had to come out again . finally got it in the 3rd time no problem . i did mine by pulling the trans away from the engine which to me seems way more easier and quicker than removing the engine .
anyhoo i wish you the best luck and youl definatly learn from any mistakes you make .

oh heres what mine looked like when i got it out . if you look closely you can just about see where the flex plate came away from the crank !! haha .

[justinburnett]

Guess who feels dumb for not thinking about the rear main while I had the engine out and on the ground? Yep, me. No changing it now though.

Okay, engine came out and went in okay. No major problems, although getting everything to line up and slide into place was a major pain. After I put the bell housing bolts back in and pulled the converter out just a hair, that mated just fine with the flex plate. I didn't get much else done though, had to run some erands. I sure wish I had a shop/garage where I could have pulled it out and done some gasket replacing and such, plus clean it off, but I didn't want to leave it sitting in the street even for one night. I couldn't get my hood put back on and I'm really paranoid about whether or not I'm going to have a battery in the morning.

I was in the process of bolting on the starter when it got dark, so I'll be back at it in the morning. Just finish the starter, put the radiator back in, re-connect some hoses and wires (all numbered on both ends for easy re-installation cause I don't trust myself to remember) and it'll be ready to test. All except for one thing.

STUPID EXHAUST PIPES!!!! I was so focused on the mounts and lining up with the bell housing that I didn't make sure to guide the pipes in between the studs on the way down and now I can't get them to fit. They won't drop enough to clear the studs. I can't lift it back up and try again so... muffler shop? Cut and re-connect? I'll figure something out there. Can't really afford to have someone fix them so I'll just jimmy something. Assuming it runs when I'm done this will have been a very interesting project and I'm glad i did it instead of paying a shop. If it doesn't, I'll probably be cursing myself for however long it takes to get it, but that's okay. I learned a few things. Thanks again everyone who chimed in with some advice! I don't think I could have done it without the suggestions. Still wish I'd figured out the rear main thing before though, I'm going to have to go through this all again if it blows aren't I?

[hitcher]

glad it went ok for you . i know first hand how much of a pain it is working with no shop , garage or even a drive . like i said before mine was the first id done . after learning a few things and where i went wrong i was able to help my buddy with his a few weeks later . he doesnt know much about that kind of thing but we breezed it after i had done mine . we were lucky to have a lift at work with is way easier , job took about 1 1/2 hours for everything .
hopefully now if you have to do it again or help someone else it should be a lot easier

[justinburnett]

I don't want to jinx myself, but I'd say now that I've done it once, i'd feel pretty comfortable doing it again. Still not sure it's all going to work, but I'm about 85% confident that everything will be fine.

I WISH I had a shop with a lift, even if it was at work! You're lucky, I did this out in the street. My buddy almost got run over by a cop coming around the corner too tight. i told him he should have let the guy nail him. At least you know they have insurance! We even had road cones out about 3' from the side of the truck to let people know not to drive too close. What do they do? Run over my ****ing cones of course. I'm amazed there are any road construction workers left in the world as many idiots are driving.

I'll let you guys all know tomorrow whether it works out or not. Like I said, I'm pretty confident that everything is going to turn out just fine.

[hitcher]

we'll keep our fingers crossed for you dude .

[motornut]

yup should be fine

[babyJay]

Originally Posted by justinburnett

I don't want to jinx myself, but I'd say now that I've done it once, i'd feel pretty comfortable doing it again. Still not sure it's all going to work, but I'm about 85% confident that everything will be fine.

I WISH I had a shop with a lift, even if it was at work! You're lucky, I did this out in the street. My buddy almost got run over by a cop coming around the corner too tight. i told him he should have let the guy nail him. At least you know they have insurance! We even had road cones out about 3' from the side of the truck to let people know not to drive too close. What do they do? Run over my ****ing cones of course. I'm amazed there are any road construction workers left in the world as many idiots are driving.

I'll let you guys all know tomorrow whether it works out or not. Like I said, I'm pretty confident that everything is going to turn out just fine.

All I had before was a gravel driveway to lay in, and I set myself a goal to have a building with a lift in it. LINKIt all depends on what you want in life and put into it, you get out of it in return. Some people drive a corvette, I drive a 92 Van, BUT, I have a 30x30 shop with a 12000 lb lift now. The corvette (NOT) can come later in life.

I agree with you, since you got your first one out of the way, the next should be whole lot easier for you, and it sounds like you've learned from a few mistakes, which we all do. You're doing great for your first time around.

[Slonaker]

If you didn't already get the exhaust to line up, try unbolting any hangers that secure it to the body or frame further back. That should allow you to drop it enough in the front to get everything to line up.

Slonaker

[justinburnett]

Will do. It's still a bit cold out there so I'm waiting a little bit longer before I get at it.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by justinburnett

Will do. It's still a bit cold out there so I'm waiting a little bit longer before I get at it.

Wimp. Its all the way up to 38 degrees now. Get back to work

Great job getting it done and back together pretty much on your time line.

Hope your battery is still there. I hate thieves.

If you were a few hours closer I would have offered to help.

[justinburnett]

Got the topside all finished except for the radiator. Had to come in and watch the kids while the wife goes shopping. Need to pop the radiator in and then starter and I'm ready to rock and roll.

[justinburnett]

Okay, so I may have a problem. i found a thing and I don't know what it is. Think it probably came off the truck, but it was in the street so it might have just been there before, or maybe got dropped or thrown... Think it might be a motor mount cause it's rubber, but i've never seen one before really. Didn't pull anything out on purpose when i took it out but it might have slipped out or something, if that's what it is. Here's some pictures. Still haven't gotten out to finish. Wife's STILL out. Soon, I hope.

If it is something important, please let me know what and how to get it back where it goes.

[justinburnett]

I don't know why the pictures not working. It's a strip of rubber less than an inch wide and maybe 3 or four inches long by a half inch thick with some kind of metal bits in it towards the end, if that helps.

Here's a link

http://s981.photobucket.com/albums/a...ent=thing2.jpg

http://s981.photobucket.com/albums/a...ent=thing1.jpg

[Jonboy]

Those are the mount cushions for the radiator. There are two on top, two on the bottom of the radiator.

[Slonaker]

Yep. They stick to the bottom of the radiator when you lift it up, then get knocked off on the way out of the engine compartment. Easy fix.

Slonaker

[justinburnett]

YES!!!! I can fix that. I was all stressed out thinking I was going to somehow have to jack up the engine or something and slide it in the mount.

Of course I just finished putting in the radiator, but that's okay.

All I have left (besides taking the rad back out) is the starter and I'm ready to go!!!!

Oh, and the hood. Who needs that though?