[myet1967]

I have a 1993 LX coupe, 2.3 with a4ld automatic. I bought the car for $100. It runs good but had a suspected transmission problem. I swapped in a rebuilt a4ld, and it still has the same problem. It seems the pump is not pumping fluid, also the starter drags the flywheel bad after the engine starts. Is there supposed to be a spacer between the flexplate and the crank, or is it possible that the wrong flexplate is on it causing the torque converter not to run deep enough the in trans?? Any help would be much appreciated!!

[74stang2togo]

Is the steel plate between the bellhousing and the block there???

For engines use a thin steel plate (the thickness of ordinary sheetmetal) between the transmission bellhousing and engine block on most vehicles (including 2.3/A4LD equipped vehicles). If this is not there it can cause problems with the starter dragging, but I'm not sure if the transmission's ability to pump fluid could be affected (though it could be a possibility somehow since the torque converter would be seated further than designed.)

[myet1967]

Yes, the steel plate between the engine and transmission is in place. It seemed like when putting the trans back in, that maybe the torque converter had to move too far forward when bolted up to the flexplate. With the trans bolted up, the t/c studs just barely set inside the holes in the plate, and slid forward about 3/4 of an inch or a little more when bolting the t/c studs up. I know that the drive pads for the pump on the t/c were only about 1/2 inch or so deep. The pump driven gear is in the pump with the drive tangs offset to the rear. Thats what has me thinking maybe the flexplate is too close to the engine. The engine does not seem to have much crank thrust at all. This is the first one of these I have owned and worked on so I am learning as I go. Thanks for the reply, and any more ideas would sure help!
Todd