ok, this is the weirdest thing i have ever heard, i got my 700r4 rebuilt in a shop, when i call the guy to make sure it is done he tells me this, that i have play in my crank, that it is shifting back and forth in the engine, and i thought that is frickin weird, so i pick up the car, start it, drive it, it is feeling jus fine. now the engine is a rebuild, almost a year old with about 2500 miles on it(so i was told when i bought it), anywho, it is really strong, so i go to my friends, he bascially builds cars from the ground up, the guys got like 8, and he tells me thats impossible, that if it did have play it wouldnt start, and that if it did the engine would be toast, i also got the same answer from a guy i work with, and he double checked with his dad who is a mechanic, now my friend feels that the trans guy was trying to get out of a warranty because either the engine is too strong, or he is cheap. i did a visual inspection of the flywheel/torque converter and the drive pulley and neither of the "wobble". now my question is could it be true what the guy says or is it all just some . Also my friend tells me it could be that it feels like i got a misfire some wheres, and my second question is, is there anyway i can find that out without having to take out every spark plug? and if i do, what do i need to do it and how long will it take(so i can plan accordingly). ANY info is awesome, cause i am lost and scared at the same time, thanks!!

 

It's supposed to have a certain amount of play. .010" - .015" (close to 1/64") is about right. In no way will too much hurt anything, up to a point; I've seen motors with .030" of crank end play that ran just fine. I think the trans guy might just be a little over-sensitive.

As far as "feeling like a misfire", there's lots of things that can cause that. Plugs and wires would be the very first thing to check; after that, the dist cap and rotor; after that, injectors; after that, a compression check.

 

ok, i checked last night and found that i had a plug wire not attached to the distriuter, after i connected it it ran fine, but now it "smells like a lawn mower" like there is more gas being expelled than exhaust, but also i need to replace an exhaust bolt right off the header that connects it to the rest of the exhaust. now could the "1/4 inch of play" in the crank be do to the fact that the wire wasnt attached, which would cause unequall pressure and so on and so forth, and how do i fix the rich gas running problem?

 

No a loose plug wire will not make the crank move ¼". I think somebody is yanking your crank (excuse the pun.... or, maybe not!) If your motor runs and doesn't make loud banging noises, there's nothing wrong with your crank.

Running ricj is caused by too much fuel - like you needed me to tell you that. If your motor has been rebuilt, there's any number of things that could cause it. A little more detail of the rebuild might help.

 

ok, the trans went and i tool it back to the shop for them to look at it, originlly the guy said that if the front pump was damaged in anyway then they wont fix it, but they sad the trans was damaged due to the crank, and this time it was the owner of the joint that said i have more like a 1/2 inch of play in the crank. this is wat i know of the rebuilt, it is a 4 olt main 350, port and polished heads, different cam (not sure of the specs), BBK 58 mm throttle body, it is a new block and everything, i found out where the engine was rebuilt and i am going to stp out there to askthe guy who rebuilt it what he did to it. but i am totally loston this one and cant figure out how my crank is shiftin so bad or why. if anyone can give me any info on thier past probs or any idea what this might be i would be greatful, thanks once again

 

That's ridiculous, one way or another.

Go look at it. I assume the transmission is still out of it.

If it has more than 1/32" or so (.030") of front-rear play, then the motor has serious problems. Up to 1/16" or so shouldn't make the slightest difference to the trans.

If in fact it has play like that, then you have an issue with wohever built the motor.

 

I am inclined to say that it is impossible for the crank to move that much, if you look how the crank and main bearings are made there is no way it can move that much, it would have to be eating up the counterweights on the crank and literally making all kinds of noise. look at the pic and you can see what Im talking about. I think they fubared the tranny and are trying to cover theyre asses so they don't have to fix it right.

 

redbird, this is a bit off topic, but what mods do you have to the 85 and what does it run?

Ben

 

how muh they have fubared the trans? i only got a rebuilt until i could save up for a performance one, but what could they have done to the trans or even the engine that could cause all the problems i am having. like you said i would hear noise but i hear nothing at all other then the exhaust, but there is no grinding or pinging or anything of the sort, i am goign to go with i was ripped of, but i am more worried about the engine than the trans right now

 

Well, about the only way they could connect the trans problem to the supposed crank problem is through the front pump. That is why the idiot owner said if it was the front pump, they would not fix it. If the front pump was assembled, and for/aft clearances were not checked, that could cause something to let go in the pump. Everyone is right. It is impossible for the crank to move enough to damage a good trans, and the engine still run well. The CW on the crank would hit like 86redbird said. If that owner actually believes there is that much movement, ask him how the counterweights are not hitting the main saddles, or why the rods are even moving. With that much play, I don't think you would find a starter strong enough to keep cranking it over. Man, people like him really aggrevate me. and the fact he is a shop owner makes him even worse.

 

I think that on of your friends that is a mechanic should go down to this transmission shop and check it out with you. Someone that is not afraid to argue with these people and get the problem fixed. You sound like you are pretty hesitant to put up much of a fight with these people.

 

so i sould go and make a stink about this? i dont know if the guy has the trans out of it, but he mentioned something about shimming the torque converter so it doesnt move in and out on the trans to hard. this was a short term solution to buying a performance trans when i had the money,but should i look into just getting like the TCI Street Fighter TH700R4, would that fit? but to avoid further problems should i look into getting in touch with the better business bureau or local depertments like that? cause honestly i have neighbor who is a lawyes who knows about this and says for me to get an outside opinion besides some one i know, and he says he will look into it, but i shouldnt worry about the crank then right?? cause that is all i am worried about right now, i hear no noises and it is running just fine

 

Well, the crank end play for a sbc is .005" to .007". I have seen the center cap thrust bearing wear out on a std. shift car with a heavy duty clutch pressure plate though, but never on an auto trans.

Auggie

 

Is it a possability guys ....that this " shim job" #$((ed the guys tranny .....I'd take a street dressed lawyer down to talk to this guy ( with soem one good at this chit) ....the Lawyer is just to get buddies side of the story .....then BURN his *** ........I can't stand people who don't take responsability for their actions