[Yadkin]

That might be my problem. Does the concave/indention of the flexplate always face towards transmission?

My (two) pictures are worth 1000 words. 5830.gif

 

[mrvandermey]

Simply said: If you can get all the bolts into the crankshaft, it's right. It ONLY goes on one way. No other way works. The first picture is right, but keep in mind, that's on top of the torque converter, not bolted to the crankshaft.

It curves away from the engine block at the edges, basically.

If you somehow have it bolted to the crankshaft upside down, you are a very determined person and I really would like to know how you managed to do that without drilling out one of the holes in the flexplate a bit wider!

Now that I see that the pic is of the flex plate bolted to torque converter, then I have the flexplate correctly installed.

As a mock up to see if parts fit, dry fitted the torque converter directly to flexplate without transmission.
I dry fitted bellhousing to engine block without transmission.
I attached torque converter to transmission with a double clunk (face of torque converter sits behind edge of bellhousing).

I am thinking since I had the belhousing flush in all but the bottom, I am wondering if I did not have the center of the torque converter seated properly in center hole of flexplate. All four of the toque converter bolts slide through the bolt holes in the flexplate.

Based on everything stated in this thread, I seem to be doing it right, except I admit when it was not flush I did tighten the bolts hoping to bring it together.

 

[Grimbrand]

Usually what happens in that instance is the torque converter's slipped off just a little, and gotten turned as you tried to put the bolts through the flexplate. So what follows is this: The torque converter's no longer fully seated. You are now trying to break either the stator or the pump, and in your case, it looks like the bellhousing just gave out first.

If you have trouble getting them flat to each other, have a buddy spin the crank as you're helping them in place. That way the torque converter can gently 'clunk' back to where it's supposed to be. While this process is sometimes easier out of the car, doing a solo installation of an engine AND transmission together is also a big pain in the butt, so it winds up being about the same level of challenge either way you try it.

 

[Yadkin]

Usually what happens in that instance is the torque converter's slipped off just a little, and gotten turned as you tried to put the bolts through the flexplate.

It helps if you have the front end of the car higher than the rear, and keep the tranny at that same angle. Gravity keeps the converter in place.

 

[mrvandermey]

It helps if you have the front end of the car higher than the rear, and keep the tranny at that same angle. Gravity keeps the converter in place.

Not able to that as the engine is not in the car....yet. But I did think that may be one of the problems that the engine and transmission are tilted at difference angles, so I raising both off ground to better match the angels.

 

[Travis98146]

Did you replace the crankshaft on the 302? If it came out of a manual shift car, it will have the pilot bushing/bearing. The C4 converter doesn't use a bushing/bearing in the end of the crank. If you can, post a picture of the end of the crankshaft.

 

[frankabuck]

Question

Does this combo (small block w/ c4) need a block plate? Do you have one?

 

[mrvandermey]

Did you replace the crankshaft on the 302? If it came out of a manual shift car, it will have the pilot bushing/bearing. The C4 converter doesn't use a bushing/bearing in the end of the crank. If you can, post a picture of the end of the crankshaft.

I replaced every part of the engine. The car was originally (from factory) a 302 with C4 automatic transmission. The same 302 and C4 tranny were there when I started. Engine was built for an automatic.

 

[mrvandermey]

I am still awaiting arrival of my third bell housing. I expect it in this week. Once I get it in and get cracked bell housing off, i will take and post a few pics to show my set up.

 

[Tony 64]

Probably wouldn't hurt to post some pics of how it is attached now.
Could be something obvious that we all missed.

 

[mrvandermey]

Here are a few pics as it is right now, bell housing appears to be close to flush, but huge crack in bell housing and if you look closely, bottom bolts are not fully screwed in and there still remains a larger gap and bottom than top. The crack appeared after i tighten bottom bolts and walked away, then 2 minutes later, it cracked.

Hard to see in pics, but I brought the bottom of bell housing to engine block by tightening bolts, which I now know is wrong.

 

[mrvandermey]

I removed tranny from engine, and then removed the cracked bell housing. I have received my third bell housing, painted it, test fitted it to engine block (fits nicely with out tranny, so I know alignment dowels are right). I then attached replacement bell housing to tranny and installed torque converter (felt two clicks). Now, here are a few pics showing the converter, the flexplate and the gap I am looking at now (even though all four of the torques converter bolts are going through the flexplate holes.

 

[Ogre39]

Are you sure you have the correct torque converter? It's been a year since I removed installed a transmission, but it looks to me like either your torque converter is not seated in the bell housing or you have the wrong type of torque converter. Your bell housing should only be within a 1/2" of the block by the time the torque converter bolts start coming through the flex plate.

 

[mrvandermey]

As far as I know I have the correct torque converts, as I ordered a torque converter for a C4, with a 157 tooth flexkplate, for a 1966-1970 302 (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pma-pa26212).

I have dry fitted the bell housing to block (by itself) and it fit.
I have dry fitted the torque converter to the flexplate (without bell housing and tranny) and it fit
I just seem to have a problem getting the tranny with bell housing and torque converter to slide into place.

 

[Grimbrand]

There's something weird about that torque converter. Or bellhousing. It looks like it's sticking out farther than I'd expect. There's something weird, there. I'm inclined to agree with Ogre, at first glance.

Tomorrow, when I have light, I'll go out and look at my transmission, with its stock torque converter, and take a pic for you. If it's the wrong thickness somehow, that'll obviously cause major problems!

 

[Tony 64]

There is definately an issue with the torque converter.
It should not stick out that far after two clicks.

The pics show how far it should be recessed into the bellhousing.

 

[baylensmanfl]

Definitely have the wrong convertor!! Are you sure your getting one for a pre mod engine! The M cases started in late 73 or 74 used in cars other than the mustang (which only had a v6 in 74). Also the distance from the flex plate to the block looks excessive also, the distance from the counterweight to the engine gasket (large plate that matches the bell housing is under a 1/4" yours looks to be over a 1/2" are you sure thats the correct piece for your year engine/tans years?. Go to a junk yard and "borrow" a torque convertor yours isn't deep enough.

 

[mrvandermey]

Interesting. I guess Summit Racing is not accurate in the products and descriptions they provide. This sucks. Well this puts a severe damper on my engine project. I guess it will be another few months before I find the right pieces. I guess I need another new converter and another new flexplate.


Taking a close look at my converter, it appears the center section may be sticking out too far. As the body is well behind the edge of the bell housing. On the flexplate it is a 1/2" space.

I think I am done with this project. Apparently I do not know enough to know whether high end parts will fit with each other and I guess manufacturers' descriptions can not be counted on. Time to dump the entire project and move on. Bummer, I really did want to see this engine in action but I guess that is not in the cards for me or this project. This is the last straw on this project and I failed. I bit off far more than I can chew. This may be a small problem for people who do this all the time, but for me, it is far beyond my skill level. Time to part ways with this project.

 

[paul289]

Interesting. I guess Summit Racing is not accurate in the products and descriptions they provide. This sucks. Well this puts a severe damper on my engine project. I guess it will be another few months before I find the right pieces. I guess I need another new converter and another new flexplate.


Taking a close look at my converter, it appears the center section may be sticking out too far. As the body is well behind the edge of the bell housing. On the flexplate it is a 1/2" space.

I think I am done with this project. Apparently I do not know enough to know whether high end parts will fit with each other and I guess manufacturers' descriptions can not be counted on. Time to dump the entire project and move on. Bummer, I really did want to see this engine in action but I guess that is not in the cards for me or this project. This is the last straw on this project and I failed. I bit off far more than I can chew. This may be a small problem for people who do this all the time, but for me, it is far beyond my skill level. Time to part ways with this project.

Don't be so hard on yourself. No project worth doing is without challenges. Just give Summit a call. Not all aftermarket parts are created equal. Descriptions on parts are usually supplied by the manufacturer, so Summit should be able to replace it with one that fits no problem.

 

[mrvandermey]

Don't be so hard on yourself. No project worth doing is without challenges. Just give Summit a call. Not all aftermarket parts are created equal. Descriptions on parts are usually supplied by the manufacturer, so Summit should be able to replace it with one that fits no problem.

I do not Summit can help as I have the torque converter for more than 90 days, so no returns or exchanges.

This project has been nothing but unexpected challenges. I am out of patience, motivation, and money to throw at this. Sadly, I regret taking on this project. It happens. Now I just need to find a way to get the engine, tranny, car and spare parts out of my garage. In hindsight, besides not ever taking on the project, I would have been much better off to either saveup my money and buy a project done to my standards or save up to have a professional build, install and tune the engine for me. I thought I could get a nice car, with some power and bling and still save a few bucks. Not the case. So, this project beat me. If the project does not sell this summer, maybe I will find new motivation next year to finish it.