Won't go into gear....oh no???

[ellisjay2]

Done with engine swap, now tranny won't go into gear. I made sure that converter was fully seated before bolted block up. I've pulled tranny cooler line and no fluid while running, so yeah either pump has gone bad or somehow converter slide out. But I cautiously triple checked converter. And from what I see and took a pic of it couldn't go back any further without contacting the grooves of the tranny. And if the pump did just go bad from sitting for a few years then it is what it is, but I'm not ready to cancel it out just yet. Other than pulling tranny which I'm ready to do, what else can I check or inspect before I pull it out, th 350.... The new block I dropped in is a 70s block and came with flywheel attached. My old block was an 80s block but I left that flywheel out, I didn't see a difference comparing the two before dropping in.

[Dead Parrot]

Have to ask but did you add enough fluid back in? If both trans and converter were empty, somewhere around 13 quarts is the amount needed.

As far as the flex plate, if the holes match, you should be good.

[ellisjay2]

Never lost any fluid...dipstick shows full cold. I left tranny sitting in truck, converter I pulled out and seated 3 clicks back in didn't spill much fluid.

[ellisjay2]

So after checking underneath....when I unbolted the flywheel to converter to check for any room for converter to move back any, it only slides back about 1/4 inch but that's because the bolts are unscrewing from converter.....shims was the first to come to mind between converter and fly wheel......but there were never any shims originally.......so then even after holding converter back that 1/4 space I tried to see if while moving drive shaft, converter would move to but converter stayed still, I'm trying to analyze here.....in my picture I'm pointing to space that has to be maxed out for converter, because if it went back any further it would touch the grooves......

[GRADYS Performance]

Turning the Driveshaft will Not turn the torque converter. If you unbolt the converter from the flexplate will the converter turn freely?

[ellisjay2]

Yes it will spin freely....

[Pontiac1976]

As said the trans and the TQ take a lot oil. The TQ looks like 1800stall and are big TQs. Make sure the oil is filled to the right warm the trans up to run temp then check oil again when every thing bolted back in correct run throw the gears. Make sure you have your foot on the brake. Make sure the fluid gets pumped around the from the rad trans tank to TQ to the valve body. Once your sure the TQ all the way in bolt it down the TQ will a just it self, tighten down the bolts so it stay flat and does not make any loud pops when it's bolted in place. I would take off all the drive tires for extra safety jack stands on the frame use all smart for safety in mind. Re-Check trans oil to make sure it top up in park( should be run temp hot.) Make sure the drive shaft bolted in. And make sure you shifter linkage is adjusted
correct too.

[ellisjay2]

It's a factory converter...my picture is cut in half...

[Pontiac1976]

So re-fit all the parts making sure everything correct check fluid.do all safety stuff to make sure your and other are safe as said there a little out order because I had to retype twice be cause did not load so I was getting a little mad at Re-typing so much so many time. If it does not load up and you do not feel it trying to in gauge the wheels and the trans fluid up and warm then it maybe the pump blow up.

[ellisjay2]

This is embarrassing....I could've sworn all this time I had th 350....but may be 400...here's badge numbers on side...not sure....I'll get better pic tomorrow...

[GRADYS Performance]

That's a 400 Turbo. Everything already discussed still applies. Check ALL those items and see what happens.

[ellisjay2]

Went through all the motions again, added washers to make up 1/8 space between converter and flywheel...snugged down...ran at idle, warmed up, went through all gears, nothing grabbed.....

No fluid pumping through cooler line at radiator.....

Now that I think about it.....for the pump to just go out if so, wonder if something got damaged when I towed truck on flat bed with converter sitting in it freely....???

Other than dropping pan tomorrow....looks like I'll be pulling tranny, and can I just replace pump if needed....though I know that's a good time to rebuild but not trying to dump alot of $$$ in this keep as a work truck project... my truck is showing the symptoms of sitting for 5yrs.

[kwmech]

If the truck was up on a trailer that wouldn't be any different than just sitting like it did

[Dead Parrot]

Unless you towed it a lot, unlikely towing was the culprit. IIRC, the towing limit is several miles before you need to drop the driveshaft.

IIRC, the TH400 has a pickup tube associated with the filter. Pickup tube has an o-ring. If o-ring isn't seated correctly, can cause lack of fluid pressure. Something to double check when you drop the pan.