I bought a 92 Firebird about 2 months ago to use as a daily driver. Its automatic transmission was slipping but the engine was running well. The engine had been previously replaced and is a 3.1 liter. I will repeat that the engine was running well. I let it sit for a few weeks before I swaped the tranny and when it got cold outside this winter the battery froze and swelled. I replaced the battery and when I started the car there was a horrible squeeling and smoke comming from the firewall. The engine died after about 5 seconds and wouldn't start again untill I let it sit for a while. I didn't think anything of this because I thought it was the tranny. I swapped the tranny + torque convertor and now the engine is still doing this. I have done a complete tuneup, replaced the alternator and made sure that it is not any of the accesories that are squeeling. I did this by taking off the belt. I am confused now and don't know what to do. Let me repeat, the engine will squeel, run very rough, smoke by the firewall, and die after about 5 seconds. Then it will not restart untill it has sat for a while. It is not giving any trouble codes because it will not run long enough. Any help you can give is very greatfully appreciated. Thanks

 

One thing comes to mind and don't take this the wrong way as it has happened to me. It may be that the torque converter isn't back far enough on the input shaft. Did you have any problems bolting it up to the flywheel? This makes for one heck of a squeel when the car is started and the engine will not run as the crankshaft and trans is in a bind. The squeel is the converter grinding off the pump shaft splines and the resulting smoke comes from all of the friction.

 

Thanks for the response. That sounds like it might me it. When I put the torque convertor in it seemed like it had a lot of play in it front to back. How did you fix the problem. Did you cause any permanent damage? Thanks.

 

I had to replace the front pump in the transmission as I recall. I would have sworn that I had seated the torque converter fully onto the input shaft. That has been quite a ew years ago but if we insist on "tinkering" with our beloved F-bodies, we will always be learning something. Have you had the engine running long enough to see if the transmission will engauge when shifted to drive?

 

if that was it then there probably is damage. Better check it out.

I use hardened steel washers to space between the flexplate and the TC. I believe the spec for tollerence on the play is about 1/16 of an inch or so, but I always set mine up a little tighter than that with never a problem.
Make sure you use lock washers to hold your TC bolts from backing out. Lock-tight doesn't cut it. All these washers will probably require you to use longer bolts, so remember to get the highest quality grade-8 bolts for this purpose.
good luck

 

It will go into gear and move as long as the engine will run. The old tranny that I replaced would not do that. I do remember having to bring the torque convertor forward to bolt it to the fly wheel. I guess it is not engaged. I am going to space it and hopfully there is no damage to the tranny. Thanks

 

Ok, I spaced the torque converter and even took it off. That did not fix the problem. So I know it is not the accesories and I know it is not the tranny. I also took the distributer out and retimed it and made sure the bearings wern't causing the squeeling. Still no luck. I will do a compression test tommorow. I really need help with this one guys, I am at a lose for more ideas. Thanks

 

any help?

 

It's a long shot, but have you made sure that your starter is not staying completely engaged? All I can think of, other than the tranny suggestion, is the starter or something caught between the block and flywheel.

 

I want to thank everyone for there input. I tried alot of the things that you all sugested. While I was checking to see if the starter was staying engaged I removed the oxegen sensor. The car ran without it. I figured the exaust was clogged so 20 minuits with a torch and sawzaw and the cat and exaust was gone. Now it runs great, just really loud. The cat had colapesed onto itself. Thanks again for the help.