A real expierienced mechanic will probally be able to answer this.
Hey guy's, have any of you ever had a Torque Converter go out on you? If so, what were the symptoms or the sounds it made prior to taking a dump? I have a problem which I believe is going to turn out to be the Torque Converter .
I take off from a stop and have to let off the throttle cause it sounds like either the Torque Converter is making a rattling noise or the flexplate is hitting on the back part of the motor . In reverse sometimes it makes a ticking type noise. I've checked all bolts and re-torqued everything but can not figure it out.
Sitting still and reving the motor there is no noise at all just a tight powerful engine with no slop or rattles. But as soon as I take off and put a little torque on it the rattle starts up and then goes away after reaching 20-30 mph.

I have a '89 Z28 with a '91 Corvette L98 in it backed by a 700R4 with a couple hundred over stock spec Torque Converter. It's been getting worse so if any of you have heard these strange noises that are hard to explain to others without them hearing it you will understand what I mean! Any help will be greatly appreciated!

CALIROCZ28

 

Most of the time when a torque converter acts up, it will not multiply torque at low speeds (the overrun sprag in the torque converter not holding). It will act very sluggish till about 3,000 rpm, then it will feel pretty much the same. Noises can be a variety of things, hard to pin point. If you see a lot of aluminum shavings in the pan, it can possibly mean torque converter damage.

 

Ok after examing and listening some more I am sure the noise is between the TC and the flexplate. I also discovered a hole in the trans case wear it bolts to the engine. Looking into the hole the flexplate is visable. Could this of happened if the crossmember of the trans bolts were stripped? I had a previous problem with the bolts that hold the tranny brace to the frame. I retapped them and placed helicoils in them and then tack welded the bolt heads to the cross member so they would not come loose. Could i be an alignment issue? Is it even possible that the flexplate could have cause the hole in the top of the case? I have a strange idea that I might have twisted something when getting on it. I have a Nitrous system on it (150 Hp jets) and when I hit the juice it is producing a lot of Torque and horsepower. I have not used the Nitrous for many months so I've kinda of ruled this out. The noise started about a month ago and seems to be geting worse but hardly noticeable if I take off slow and easy. I checked the pan and did not find and shavings in it or in the filter.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

I don't know if this helps you or not, because I'm not seeing any of the performance difficulties that you are (even though my crate engine is slowly killing my transmission ) but I have a godawful rattling noise between 1000 and 2000rpms. I had my mechanic look the car over and it turns out the torque converter shroud is warped and lose, so it vibrates at certain RPMS making the noise. Annoying as hell, the rough roads over here in Tampa have knocked it loose again