Well, some of you know the trouble i had before with the broken drive pump, now i have it back in and fixed, but my concern is now that the gap between the flywheel and pump is about half an inch. when i pull it out far enough to bolt up, i know it stays conected, but by how much worries me. The notches that grab the pump, as i remember, weren't all that deep. Yes, the flywheel is on the right dirrection. My biggest question i guess, is, is it allright to use a thick washer or something as a spacer so that my tq converter doesnt have to pull out as far to reach the flywheel? Or does that center piece really need to make contact with the crank? thanx

 

I normally just put the torque conveter right up against the flexplate. I dont use spacers or washers or anything like that.

 

The converter needs to pull out far enough to engage the pilot in the crank.

Bottoming in that, will prevent it from pulling out too far.

I would not recommend trying to use any kind of spacers. They are unecessary and can only cause problems, while not being capable of any benefit.

 

k...well then...im heading outside to finish bolting things together right now!...thanx alot. but if i break a drive flange off of that front pump...i'm hitting up TGO for a new one!!!

 

Hey, my liability is limited to what I charged you for the advice....

 

Were on an interesting topic here. Usually in a stock application you just pull it out and bolt it up to the flexplate with no washers.

In racing applications where a mid plate is used you sometimes have to use spacers. It all depends on how the converter mounting feel are made. If your car is using stock parts do not use any spacers. If you have the wrong converter is it possible you might need a spacer. I would say, like what sofakingdom said, do not use any spacers. If you do need them be sure to use a MS washer. They have very close thickness tolerances. If you just use some old washer that are not the same thickness you will twist your flexplate and it will break over time. Or something worse could happen. The washers should not range more then .002 in thickness. I would shoot for a perfect .000

 

well...my tq converter and flywheel are aftermarket...so perhaps i should look into that then...i guess i'll check it tomorrow though....my day has gone rapidly downhill in the last half an hour. I've been running back and forth from my friends shop to rob parts. somehow in between moves (i had to move my whole project from one shop to another) an entire box of parts got lost. Just so happenend to be everything for my drive line. including those long azz torque arm bolts and my driveshaft clips and bolts. and just now...on my way back from a parts run...the strap broke in the back of my truck that was holding in my motorcycle...and it fell over and half collapsed the side of my bed....i think its time for me to call it a day.

 

Bummer sorry to hear that. moving sucks!!

Check with the people that you bought the parts from. The flexplate usually does not have any bearing on it. The only variable would be the torque converter.

Let us know what you find out.

 

With that kind of distance, you are getting very little torque converter hub to gear contact. If you actually have a .500 gap, then the torque converter was not built right. The "ideal" distance between the flexplate and the mounting hub is .080" - .125". This will give you the most torque converter hub to gear contact for maximum gear life. When I see the initial distance at anywhere near .250", I send the TC back, as I know this can become a problem (my problem) down the line. Yes, I use machined washers that are identical in thickness at all three corners to move the torque deeper into the pump to get the "Ideal" clearance of .080" - .125". I have been doing this since the late 1970's, and have found very few TC's right on the clearance to start with, almost 100% of them have to much clearance.

 

Well i have to get under there again tommorrow to fix a leaking coolant line anyway...so i spose i'll go ahead and get some good washers and space that converter back into the tranny a bit...better safe than sorry...but hey, on the bright side....my car moved under its own power today for the first time in almost two years!!!!

 

Remeber, to use a micrometer or calipers to do this, and whatever spacer you use, the three corners have to have the same identical thickness.

 

i have had to space them in stock form before, and i believe also the th350 one in my 82 the last time i had an engine in it because it had a huge gap but i cant remember for sure, this time its getting a 2400 stall converter in it and so we will see how it goes
good luck