I recently dropped in transmission (2800 stall) and rebuilt engine, however i used the original flexplate. When i try to start the engine, the starter will turn over slightly then lock up. It appears to be properly shimmed when the flywheel is one location, as there is just enough clearance, but as i rotate the engine half a turn the flywheel will hit the starter gear even when its retracted. It would seem that the flywheel is warped, however it looked fine prior to instalation. The engine is fresh but still can be spun with less than 28 lbs of torque so theres nothing locked up inside.

What else could cause the flexplate to spin unevenly? Any ideas on what i can do to fix this.

Any help greatly appreciated!
thanks

 

You bent it. Buy a new one lol.

 

Make sure nothing is messed up with the converter. If not properly engaged in the front pump, for instance, it can be cockeyed. Or, something between the converter lug and the flexplate.

 

So you think the issue is more likely to be tied into the converter or trans? The converter lugs are sitting tight against the flexplate. I will take some pics in the morning and post them so there's more info available.

Thanks

 

Here are some pics.

The first pic shows plenty of clearance.
The second pic shows the starter gear butted up against the flexplate after i rotate the crank.
The third pic is of the converter against the tranny. If it looks slightly angled, its not the camera as it looks the same from under the car.

Hope the pics help.

Do you think i should try unbolting the torque converter bolts and back it off and see what it does when i crank it then?

Anything else i can try?

thanks

 

Yeah, thats what I'd do. Are you sure the converter is fully seated?

 

I unbolted the torque converter bolts and backed it off. The flexplate is still hitting the starter gear on part of the plates rotation.

Can this be shimmed?

When installing the crank i didnt see any wobble when rotating it.

 

Flex plates are supposed to "flex". That's where they got that name from.

Usually being bolted to the converter straightens em out.

Looks to me more like the starter gear just needs to retract a bit more. If that's one of the Hitachi type starters (can't see it well enough to tell that) with the round shims that can go between the motor part and the nosepiece, just add a few more of those; that's their purpose.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/til-54-012

Something along these lines. Yours might not be exactly these, the details vary somewhat from one nosepiece mfr to another.

 

I think your right (as usual). I'm going to order a few of those and give it a shot.

Thanks for dropping in and pointing me in the right direction, it's greatly appreciated.

 

Can't tell from the photo but are the "pads" that the converter legs bolt onto bubbled out in the direction of the converter/trans, not towards the engine? They should be.

 

This, something is bent.

 

I wasn't going to post it earlier, but I tend to agree you might have permanently bent it somehow (or it was bent when you bought it). There is always some front-to-back runout on a flexplate (new, used, installed, laying on the bench, whatever) but not like you should be able to see it with your eye.

 

I've bent them before unbolting the torque converter and prying on it; also from rotating a motor from the flex plate. If your converter smacked into it at a funny angle when you put it back together it could have bent.
I've had it happen pulling motors out too but luckily I've always noticed before I put it back in.