Torque converter seated right?

[team39763]

I have an ultrabell on my TH350, a stock 6.0L flexplate and a PI Vigilante LS1/Th350 converter. I thought I had my converter seated good, but a friend looked at it and told me it's not seated all the way and that's why I have to rev my motor sometimes to get it to engage forward gears(only after sitting for a week or two). How much space should be left between the converter and the pump? I can fit my hand back there pretty good. I took some pictures and I'll upload the pics in a bit. From what I read a few years ago, I'm not supposed to have enough space to even fit my hands behind the converter. Does that still apply to a little converter like mine(it's tiny compared to the stock one?

[cableguy0]

If the converter wasnt seated the trans wouldnt work at all. If the hub wasnt engaged to the pump you would know for sure by the extremely loud grinding noise right before the pump was ripped apart. being slow to engage after sitting can be due to bad lip seals sloppy valve body etc etc etc. Its known as morning sickness among tranny guys. Its the first sign of a worn out tranny. You cant fit your hand behind a 12 inch stock converter they are just too big. An aftermarket converter 10 inches or smaller leaves a lot more open space.Dont listen to your friend anymore he doesnt know what hes talking about.

[team39763]

Thanks, that gives me a little bit of relief. That fool had me scared for a minute. He showed me his TH350C and he had what looked like 3/4" worth of spacers between the flexplate and the converter. I wonder how that's gonna work out.
Anyway, my trans is pretty fresh. It was built about 2 or 3 years ago and only has 5 track passes and less than 50 miles on it. The valvebody is a brand new ATI unit. I don't mind the morning sickness as long as the trans will still do it's job at the dragstrip.

[cableguy0]

Its gonna destroy his pump. The converter being engaged too far is just as bad as it not being engaged.Hes going to find out within minutes why those spacers were a bad idea. There should be no need for any spacers. The trans could last for years. Once it gets warm the seals will expand and seal properly. I would guess it still shifts firm and operates fine once warm.When you put the converter on the trans in the first place you spin it and push it on. it will engage 3 times. Two sets of splines and lastly the torque converter hub engages the pump. You normally bring the converter forward about 3/8's or so so it engages the crank and aligns properly. Thats the reason you had to buy a special converter to use your th350 with the ls engine. the crank flange is different than on the standard sbc everyone is used to.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by team39763

Thanks, that gives me a little bit of relief. That fool had me scared for a minute. He showed me his TH350C and he had what looked like 3/4" worth of spacers between the flexplate and the converter. I wonder how that's gonna work out.
Anyway, my trans is pretty fresh. It was built about 2 or 3 years ago and only has 5 track passes and less than 50 miles on it. The valvebody is a brand new ATI unit. I don't mind the morning sickness as long as the trans will still do it's job at the dragstrip.

First off, what was his reasoning behind putting the spacers in? You can tell him if it's not to late that he is going to bust his front pump and if he feels you know nothing just keep your mouth closed and ears open and when you hear him squaling about fluid everywhere and his transmission doesn't work you can say " I'm not as dumb as you thought now grab a wrench and help me get this thing out".

[cableguy0]

Its easier to let some people learn the hard way. The best cure for stupidity is when it costs money.

[team39763]

I'll tell him what I read on here and see if he'll consider changing it...nobody around this town listens to me since I'm still new to this stuff. It was only 3 years ago that I didn't know the difference between a mechanical and a vacuum secondary carb. But I'm learning. I owe it to him to atleast warn him, that way he can't say "how come you didn't say nothin?"

[team39763]

Well, the dummy cracked his flexplate this morning. I'm glad I checked here before I listened to this dude. Thanks ya'll.

[cableguy0]

lol I bet he did more damage than that. The pump is likely torn up inside.

[djracer]

I personally have never pulled a converter out 3/8 of an inch. I have run a couple of washers if the ears on the convertor aren't thick enough. I would prefer to have the convertor fully engaged but not bottomed out. With Nitrous my junk was close to 1000hp and I sprayed it out of the hole.

[team39763]

I'm pretty sure he used those 5cent spacers/washers they sell here at the grocery store. They were probably all different thicknesses too. I can imagine that flexplate was bolted all crooked.

[djracer]

Originally Posted by team39763

I'm pretty sure he used those 5cent spacers/washers they sell here at the grocery store. They were probably all different thicknesses too. I can imagine that flexplate was bolted all crooked.

that would not be good.

[team39763]

Here's the pictures of how my converter sits in there.

[cableguy0]

being used to looking at bigger 11-12inch converters which are using in most apps will throw you off looking at that converter. what is it a 9 inch? full size converters are a lot thicker than what you have.

[team39763]

Yeah I think it's a 9" or 9.5" PI Vigilante.

[Marv D]

I agree 100% with Kevin, and especially if your running a mid plate (steel or aluminum) it's a good idea compensate for the thickness of the mid-plate material between the flex plate and the converter. So in 'some instances' spacers would be the lesser of the two evils.

But, that's just my 2¢