At my wits end with these damn torque converters

[ULTM8Z]

As I mentioned previously

Talk to Mike at Mikes Transmission

http://www.mikestransmission.com/

I'll probably talk to a few different people/companies.

 

[ULTM8Z]

Talked to my transmission guy today... he said to check the crankshaft end play as well. Once I get the transmission dropped, I'll put a dial indicator on the rear of the crankshaft and try to move it via the flex plate.

Engine is a ZZ4 with probably right around 50k miles, so I'd be surprised if it had a problem this early...

 

[1320feet]

You can check crank end play from the front of the crank as well.

 

[1320feet]

I had a TH350 once that had the bushing bore in a aftermarket pump machined off center.

 

[jthomas]

ULTM8Z...I had a similar vibration in my driveline that was solved with a high quality flex plate. I replaced the stock ZZ4 flexplate with one from ATI. It’s a $200 piece, but it really made a difference. Not saying that’s your problem, but it’s worth the investment if you are pulling it all apart.

BTW...just my opinion...TCI and Hughes off the shelf parts are really are not high quality. I can’t speak for any of their more expensive pieces, but I have had my share of issues with TCI parts all solved by using a different companies products. If you end up having to replace the converter go with Coan, ATI, Precision Industries, or another truly reputable converter. Jakeshoe could guide you better on those. I like ATI stuff. Very high quality and always well made, runout and balanced to very tight tolerances.

 

[CK2]

Not sure it is even possible on a sbc BUT when the guy put my 427 BBC flex plate on they installed it backwards. Are you sure yours is installed correctly.
Also, I have never seen a torque converter that required washers / spacers to mount the converter to the stock flexplate. Seems to me something isn't fitting correctly.

 

[ULTM8Z]

The washers are there because I'm understanding that the torque converter shouldn't move away from the tranmission too much when mating to the flex plate. Supposedly you should only move the torque converter forward between 1/8" and 3/16" to do the mate. So I use about .150" thickness of washers to reduce the gap to be within that range.

Yeah, the ZZ4 flex plate was very smooth when I was running the LT1 Vette torque converter. Something happened after that converter failed.

 

[jthomas]

Gotcha. Well could still be a cracked flexplate. I have my original ZZ4 flexplate. I since built my ZZ4 into a 383 so I had to go with a zero balance flexplate. If you find out yours is cracked or damaged and don’t want to spend the money on a new one let me know. You can have mine. It’s not cracked and has no damage.

 

[ULTM8Z]

Oh! I may just take you up on that! Thank you. I'll PM with my address to calculate shipping if it comes to that.

Very much appreciated.

 

[jthomas]

Oh! I may just take you up on that! Thank you. I'll PM with my address to calculate shipping if it comes to that.

Very much appreciated.

Your welcome. PM me if you decide to go that route.