Is it safe to store/move TH400 on its pan?

[jumpsoffrock]

I have a rebuilt TH400 I am finagle-ing into a vehicle and remember being taught not to store engines on their oil pans because their weight might affect the seal and cause an oil leak.


What about with my TH400? It is much heavier than I imagined before buying it and I am finding it rather difficult to move it around even on a wheel dolly, but I can't imagine finding a way to keep it off of its pan----but.....I am gonna hate myself if I cause a leak.

Opinions?

[Richard]

Should be fine. Transmission jacks all lift from the pan. A cheap furniture dolly from HF is fine for moving around. Having a surface to set on that goes to edge of pan would be my only recommendation.

[MARKDTN]

Agree-no issue.

[un4gvn!]

Don't store it with the convertor installed. It will egg shape the front seal. That seal is a pia when it starts leaking.

[jumpsoffrock]

Thanks ya'll

Originally Posted by un4gvn!

Don't store it with the convertor installed. It will egg shape the front seal. That seal is a pia when it starts leaking.

Shoot! It's been sitting for 4 months with it installed! Hopefully it won't be an issue, the seal is new--trans was rebuilt.

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by jumpsoffrock

Thanks ya'll



Shoot! It's been sitting for 4 months with it installed! Hopefully it won't be an issue, the seal is new--trans was rebuilt.

I learned the hard way about that. Had my new PG sit for six months before installation. Didn't make it down the driveway before it was puking fluid out that front seal! Might I suggest you have a new seal ready to go on installation day. Seal is cheap compared to the hours to r&r that trans.

[CG]

I had TCI build a Turbo 400 for me over 10 years ago. Never used it, its still in the plastic wrapper. Converter, cooler, fluids still in their boxes in a cabinet. I kept the trans stored in the shipping box for awhile, but that got torn getting bumped in to in my small shop. I bought one of those small Harbor Freight dollies, tossed the shipping box, and the trans has been sitting on the dolly for years happily taking rides around my shop.

[biketopia]

Originally Posted by yuccales

I learned the hard way about that. Had my new PG sit for six months before installation. Didn't make it down the driveway before it was puking fluid out that front seal! Might I suggest you have a new seal ready to go on installation day. Seal is cheap compared to the hours to r&r that trans.

Yup, OP will definitely want to grab a seal and zip tie the box to the trans and replace it before install. I'd honestly pull the converter and replace it now, then store the converter on a shelf.

Originally Posted by CG

I had TCI build a Turbo 400 for me over 10 years ago. Never used it, its still in the plastic wrapper. Converter, cooler, fluids still in their boxes in a cabinet. I kept the trans stored in the shipping box for awhile, but that got torn getting bumped in to in my small shop. I bought one of those small Harbor Freight dollies, tossed the shipping box, and the trans has been sitting on the dolly for years happily taking rides around my shop.

I have the same HF dolly my trans rides around on, they are great!

[mr48chev]

You can't build anything to roll a transmission around the garage in or store it on for the price of one of those furniture dollies.

They do sell plastic caps/plugs for the pump end and the tail shaft to store or ship them with. I've had transmissions I ordered from rebuilders come in with them.

GM used to ship new transmissions with a cross piece that bolted to the bellhousing that supported the converter.

[LUCKTRUCK]

or bolt the trans to an engine stand if you have an extra one. Support the tail with a 2x4

[Richard]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

You can't build anything to roll a transmission around the garage in or store it on for the price of one of those furniture dollies.

They do sell plastic caps/plugs for the pump end and the tail shaft to store or ship them with. I've had transmissions I ordered from rebuilders come in with them.

GM used to ship new transmissions with a cross piece that bolted to the bellhousing that supported the converter.

Pretty much all shops that test/dyno the rebuilt transmissions ship with the strap on the bellhousing. Do not think it is for support. Just to keep the converter from falling off during shipping.

[biketopia]

Originally Posted by Richard

Pretty much all shops that test/dyno the rebuilt transmissions ship with the strap on the bellhousing. Do not think it is for support. Just to keep the converter from falling off during shipping.

It is for both reasons. Not really a big concern if you're installing everything shortly after the build, but letting a 25+lb converter just hang on the seal and pump bushing for months or years before install will absolutely cause issues. Builders will also ship or provide the TC already installed to reduce the number of issues from incompetent installers. My trans guy has hundreds of stories of people who get a bench rebuild, then later are *****ing about a failed trans. 9 times out of 10, it's one of 3 things: the TC was not installed all the way into the pump, the converter clearance was not checked, and it's too far out of the pump, or the shift linkgage was set up wrong and it's holding the detent between gears, eventually burning up forward gears.