Torque Converter Questions

[RGS]

Hey Guys,

I recently purchased an 86 C10 2wd with a TH350C trans. I've driven it very little so far and it recently began not going in to gear when I start it up. If I rev it up for a minute or so then it will work fine but now it is making alot of noise from the converter. I bought a new converter, oring and seal for it but when I went to pull the trans today, I unbolted the torque converter and was able to push it back about 3/8" from the flywheel. I've read where it should only have about 1/8" gap and that some people use washers to correct this. Is this o.k.? Also the other thing that I am worried about is the snout (?) on the front of the converter. It does not fit snug in the crankshaft. Is it supposed to fit tight or will the bolts align it properly? Is there a bushing or something that goes in the crankshaft?

The truck has a replacement 350 (was a 305) that the PO installed so I don't know if that has something to do with it. It is supposed to be a year correct replacement however I noticed that the flywheel has a counterweight attached to it. It says 5.7L on the block in the bellhousing area but I can't see the casting numbers on the passenger side.

Sorry for all the questions but this is my only transportation and I need to get it back together right.

Thanks for your help.

Glenn

[cableguy0]

Stop before you trash the new converter. If the converter went bad it spewed its guts through the transmission. You need to get a replacement tranny or have yours rebuilt. A new converter will not last and its possible the transmission wont work at all.

[RGS]

I understand what you're saying and I agree but I'm on an extremely tight budget right now so I'm just trying to do what I can to make it last a little longer. Trans works fine after it picks up the fluid, it is just making noise. The fluid is clean as well. Thought maybe it was converter drainback and that the converter was not filling all the way up but the trans shifts like it has good pressure. I was going to change the seals but decided to buy a converter just in case. If I keep the truck, I will eventually change to 700r4.

Thanks for the input.

Glenn

[cableguy0]

Good luck. It sounds more like a pump going bad or bad drum seals. having to rev it to get it to go in gear usually is either because of low pressure or the drum lip seals being worn and letting fluid leak.A front pump will make a ton of bad noises as well.

[benoit454]

from what I've seen the converter to crank doesn't matter as long as the bolts line up to the tc and flexplate. Did you buy a lockup converter?

I would at least drop the pan throw in a new filter and fluid with a new tc to be safer.

I was going to say I'd think pump too as I heard they can make alot of noise and such but who knows maybe it is the tc.

If you think it's too much gap use washers I had heard the reman'd pumps had more material taken out thus needing washers and heard it from my trans guy they had to on his brothers car but not on his own car.