Where can I get a cheap stock torque converter? I have a really bad vibration that I cannot get rid of, and I think it may be a bad converter. I have changed wheels, tires, and driveshaft, and front brake rotors (drums in back). I have heard a possible cause could be the TC, so I figure its worth a shot. How hard is it to change the TC? Could I do it in my driveway, or would I need a lift? Thanks guys.

 

First , before you waste any more money, Go out in the driveway and start the car, rev the engine slowly from idle to 4500 RPM's does it vibrate? If not don't replace the converter, if it does it may or may not be the converter.
Now drive the car until it vibrates then put it in neutral and let it go down to idle, if it vibrates at speed with the engine at idle it's not the torque converter or anything in or connected to the engine.
After doing this tell us when you find the vibration worse.

 

Scott, I feel your pain. My lockup also doesn't work. There are at least two places in the Denver area that will rebuild, restall & balance your stock convertor for a lot less than you'd pay to buy one outright. Mine rattles as well, but hasn't gotten any worse in ~18k miles.

My engine/tranny came from a rearended '86. The guy at one of these shops says he's seen TC's messed up that way.

You can do it in your driveway with jacks & stands, it involves dropping the tranny. By all means, use a real tranny jack if you decide to do it yourself.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, ZZ3 intake, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam, ported World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 600 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).

 

On my way home, I tried the method that Jay 727 suggested. Still shook like crazy. It is driving me nuts. Around 70-80 mph, the car jsut shakes like crazy. Here is a list of new/upgraded parts on my suspension:

Rotors, Pads, KYB Shocks, Jamex Springs, Moog balljoints, Moog Idler Arm, Moog Pitman arm, Moog centerling, IROC 36mm front/24mm rear swaybars with Guldstrand poly bushings, and poly endlinks, and a wonderbar. I have also upgraded to an aluminum driveshaft. One thing that I KNOW needs changing is the Stering box, but would that be making my car vibrate? I wouldnt think it would. I have the stopck wheels on there now, but I have tried another set, and the problem persisted. I do have a slight vibration at idle, when I am sitting still, could I have a miss in the engine, and it gts real bad at certain speeds? I would think my motor mounts woul dbe shot, but they seem fine? any suggestions? Someone please help me, I almost hate driving my car!! I have got to fix this.