Torque Converter Install? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Dodge68charger · 04-02-2019, 10:24 AM

How Much Should I Fill The Converter Before Install? its Brand New..

Any Tips Before Mating It To The Transmission? Also The Transmission Has No Fluid In It and Was Rebuilt..Thank You
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**kwmech** · 04-02-2019, 11:11 AM

I used to drop the older style convertors in dry. With the new locking ones I dump a quart in.

**FirstOwner69** · 04-02-2019, 03:57 PM

Here are a couple links to a fairly elementary videos that may help depending on your knowledge level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFFIPyv2C_4&NR=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_nr...eature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBecwkd1rPg

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 04-02-2019, 04:18 PM

I did this recently, I put a qt in the converter. Intended for 1.5-2 qts, but got sidetracked

......Spin the converter after you've added fluid.

Grease where it meets the crank. Grease the seal, if it's not already. ATF on the shaft...Basically grease or use ATF on all contact points converter to shaft and converter to crank.

Slide the converter in nicely, maybe a jiggle, and spin. You should feel/hear 2-3 clicks. When it's in right you'll know it. It must spin freely, and you should be unable to fit your fingers between the housing and the converter from underneath. If it's installed right the converter nuts should be 8/10"-1" from the front of the housing. My stick said 8/10"ish, don't remember. Mine is a 400TH, but I think the others are the same or close. You can help lock the converter in place with some rags, though you wouldn't want to leave one behind (yikes).

When it comes time to bolt the converter onto the flex plate, the nuts on the converter should be approx. 1/8" from the plate. Spin it, should be nice and free. Then pull the converter to the plate, check spin and then bolt it on. 1-2 drops blue thread locker on the threads. You might look up the torque, I set mine at 40 ft. lbs (GR 5 flange bolts).

Look up info. on how to top off the trans. fluid. I have a total of 5 qts. in my transmission and converter. My 400 takes 9.5-11 qts., the rest comes during first start up.

Incidentally, a helping hand is nice. Pull your spark plugs and have someone work the crank so you can bolt it to the plate. From the front the crank spins clockwise. I installed two bolts on the damper to spin the crank with a bar. Should spin fairly easily.

**1971Stepside** · 04-02-2019, 04:25 PM

My new Circle-D instructions said to put in 1 quart. Had to pour 1/2 in and then rotate the converter a few time, let it sit and then poured in the rest. Measure to make sure you have it all the way seated for the pump.

**Sheepdip** · 04-02-2019, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodge68charger

How Much Should I Fill The Converter Before Install? its Brand New..

Any Tips Before Mating It To The Transmission? Also The Transmission Has No Fluid In It and Was Rebuilt..Thank You
Posted via Mobile Device

When your tranny is mated up tight to the motor surface you should have 1/16-1/8" space/gap between the flex plate and converter to pull together. If not... your converter is not all the way seated, and never force or pull it together with the bolts.

rjs53 · 04-02-2019, 09:53 PM

If you don't have room between flex plate and convertor, spin the convertor and push. Sold a motor and trans to a friend whom I told I would help install. When I got to his house he has already mated them together. He said it was a little hard because convertor was sticking out to far so he synched it together with bell housing bolts. Then we took it apart and had a new pump put in it.

GASoline71 · 04-02-2019, 10:31 PM

What did your transmission rebuilder tell you to do?

Gary

SeanB242 · 04-02-2019, 10:37 PM

Make sure the snout of the converter fits into that back of the crank before you get it all the way in the truck. Got one once that had a thick coat of paint on it and wouldn’t go in to save my life. Had to pull it all out and sand the paint off

Dodge68charger · 04-03-2019, 10:02 AM

Thanks
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04-02-2019, 10:24 AM	#1
Dodge68charger Registered User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 533	Torque Converter Install? How Much Should I Fill The Converter Before Install? its Brand New.. Any Tips Before Mating It To The Transmission? Also The Transmission Has No Fluid In It and Was Rebuilt..Thank You Posted via Mobile Device

04-02-2019, 11:11 AM	#2
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,389	Re: Torque Converter Install? I used to drop the older style convertors in dry. With the new locking ones I dump a quart in.

04-02-2019, 03:57 PM	#3
FirstOwner69 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin & Arizona Posts: 4,838	Re: Torque Converter Install? Here are a couple links to a fairly elementary videos that may help depending on your knowledge level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFFIPyv2C_4&NR=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_nr...eature=related https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBecwkd1rPg

04-02-2019, 04:18 PM	#4
71CHEVYSHORTBED402 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 7,118	Re: Torque Converter Install? I did this recently, I put a qt in the converter. Intended for 1.5-2 qts, but got sidetracked......Spin the converter after you've added fluid. Grease where it meets the crank. Grease the seal, if it's not already. ATF on the shaft...Basically grease or use ATF on all contact points converter to shaft and converter to crank. Slide the converter in nicely, maybe a jiggle, and spin. You should feel/hear 2-3 clicks. When it's in right you'll know it. It must spin freely, and you should be unable to fit your fingers between the housing and the converter from underneath. If it's installed right the converter nuts should be 8/10"-1" from the front of the housing. My stick said 8/10"ish, don't remember. Mine is a 400TH, but I think the others are the same or close. You can help lock the converter in place with some rags, though you wouldn't want to leave one behind (yikes). When it comes time to bolt the converter onto the flex plate, the nuts on the converter should be approx. 1/8" from the plate. Spin it, should be nice and free. Then pull the converter to the plate, check spin and then bolt it on. 1-2 drops blue thread locker on the threads. You might look up the torque, I set mine at 40 ft. lbs (GR 5 flange bolts). Look up info. on how to top off the trans. fluid. I have a total of 5 qts. in my transmission and converter. My 400 takes 9.5-11 qts., the rest comes during first start up. Incidentally, a helping hand is nice. Pull your spark plugs and have someone work the crank so you can bolt it to the plate. From the front the crank spins clockwise. I installed two bolts on the damper to spin the crank with a bar. Should spin fairly easily. __________________ Tony 71 Custom Deluxe, SWB, 2WD, 402, A/C. I developed an assm. guide "kit" for restoring it from ground up. With assys, the guide accts for 1000s of OEM identifications and part numbers, all written in short order. 700+ images include assm, illust., charts, and points of interest. Much of the info. applies to all 67-72 GM trucks, and to a lessor degree all 67-72 GM vehicles. My build thread, and more on the guide https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=730025 Last edited by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402; 04-02-2019 at 04:53 PM.

04-02-2019, 04:25 PM	#5
1971Stepside Almost Satisfied Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,928	Re: Torque Converter Install? My new Circle-D instructions said to put in 1 quart. Had to pour 1/2 in and then rotate the converter a few time, let it sit and then poured in the rest. Measure to make sure you have it all the way seated for the pump. __________________ 1971 C10 Stepside. LSx 6.0 with BTR Stage IV, Speed Engineering Headers, 4L80e transmission w/3200 Circle-D Stall. 3.73. Posi. Purchased this truck when I was 17. I started the rebuild (or take apart) in 1993. I have drug it around all over the country in pieces. Finally back on the road in 2021. "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do. Life's been good to me so far."

04-02-2019, 09:53 PM	#7
rjs53 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: nevada Posts: 649	Re: Torque Converter Install? If you don't have room between flex plate and convertor, spin the convertor and push. Sold a motor and trans to a friend whom I told I would help install. When I got to his house he has already mated them together. He said it was a little hard because convertor was sticking out to far so he synched it together with bell housing bolts. Then we took it apart and had a new pump put in it. __________________ 2003 Dodge 2500 1969 C10 2014 Camaro SS/RS/1LE

04-02-2019, 10:37 PM	#9
SeanB242 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Bonne Terre MO Posts: 192	Re: Torque Converter Install? Make sure the snout of the converter fits into that back of the crank before you get it all the way in the truck. Got one once that had a thick coat of paint on it and wouldn’t go in to save my life. Had to pull it all out and sand the paint off

04-03-2019, 10:02 AM	#10
Dodge68charger Registered User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 533	Re: Torque Converter Install? Thanks Posted via Mobile Device



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