i just swapped out trannies for the first time, now i have to bolt up tq to the flywheel. the tranny housing is bolted to the engine, and there is a gap between the flywheel and tq of 1/2", am i suppose to move the tq out to the flywheel to bolt it up? i thought it should be all tight against the tq when bolt the tranny to the engine? i have a pic if needed, thanks

 

A 1/2"? That seems a little excessive. There should be about a 1/8-1/4" gap when the torque converter is pushed back into the tranny. Are you sure the flexplate is installed correctly? If the flexplate was never changed then the 1/2" gap is normal for your car.

Once everything is correct, you slide the converter to the flexplate and bolt it up. The converter can't be bolted up if it's still pushed into the tranny. It will damage the pump.

 

i didnt unbolt the flexplate, so that should be ok, here is a pic

 

I just did mine about a week ago and my converter was a good distance away from the flexplate. I just got a thread or two on all the bolts and slowly went around and tightened them about a 1/2 turn to a turn at a time. Then it pulled the converter out.

 

Should cleaned that up a little while it was out

 

Atleast where the starter mounts. Don't want any crap acting like a shim wedged in there.

 

i will get it cleaned! i wasnt concern about cleaning when trying to put this back together, but now i look at it, it could use a bit of dusting. so it should ok to pull the tq away from the tranny to bolt it up?

 

I already said yes

 

I had the same problem with mine when I put it together. Turns out that I was looking at the TC bolt closest to me at the time (lying on the floor under the car). It had a 1/2 inch gap between the TC and flexplate. But... up at the top, near the top of the bell housing, the TC had little to no gap between the flexplate and TC. I had to lift up slightly on the TC as I brought it forward to bolt it up. This allowed the TC to be centered and to slide into the crankshaft.

My aftermarket TC had an alignment deal on the face that slid into the pilot bushing hole on the crankshaft.