It was going way too good to be true. I finished my engine rebuild and dropped the 318 back into the engine compartment today. When I removed the engine, I left the AT in place and used a chain to support it while the motor was out. I lowered the engine into place and bolted up the transmission without difficulty, tightened motor mounts and began to bolt up the driveplate to the torque converter. I had marked the two for reassembly reference. As I spun the big bolt on the harmonic balancer to rotate the driveplate a heard and felt a clang back there. I continued to bolt up and heard a few more clangs and then finally after all 4 bolts were tight I tried to rotate the engine clockwise and it wouldn't move..............froze up. What happened and how do I fix this? TY. My car is a 74 Dodge Charger 318 with auto transmission. All stock.

 

My first guess would be torque converter slots not lined up so it can slide back and seat in pump. Do you know what I mean?

 

my guess is the torque converter has slid forward making the lugs tag the flex plate. the factory service manual shows checking how far back the converter is before putting it all together. thats why a FACTORY manual is required. edit: just try to push the converter back. you may have to raise it up.

















;:

 

OK. So when I moved the car around when the engine was out, the torque converter moved forward and is no longer engaged with the pump? So, I need to pull engine back out and seat the TC so that it is approx 1/2 inch inside the housing? That is my plan unless you have better suggestion. TY for the quick response and help, I appreciate it.

 

R -

Remove the inspection cover and see if there's anything amiss with the TC, etc. Might be something simple, if not then the tranny is going to have to come down.

Archer

 

you may not need to pull the engine or trany. just remove the cover like archer said, and raise the converter and push it back. you may have to rotate it, to get the splines in gauged.

 

You guys are awesome. Thanks. So I revised my plan to fix the problem. I never installed the inspection plate (that woulda been my next step). In the morning, I will unbolt the 4 TC/driveplate bolts. Then jiggle the TC and try to push up on it to engage the splines. I have the front of the car up on jack stands and I'm crawling around under the car on a gravel floor (wish I had concrete), all kinds of fun. TY.

 

If the T converter is jammed against the flex plate ? Sad Worst case you may have damaged the front pump of the trans. SO take either the trans or engine out Remove the converter & Use a flash light look down into the seal area look for broken ears on the pump.. The pump must be seated into the trans. If it is seated there will be about 1/2" clearance between the flex plate ( DUH ) I meant to say Tconverter and the bell housing with a straight edge. Use a small C clamp to hold the converter all the way in while installing IT can be a B at times to get it to seat...

 

I got it. TY very much.

 

yep yep and yep. thats why we have lynn. "MOE" doesn't know much about trans. thanks. i t earned something