Loud Clicking/Clacking/Pinging from A340F Bellhousing [UPDATE: TRUCK IS DEAD]

I just finished converting my truck from a 2WD PreRunner to a 4WD and I put in a new complete A340F and Transfer Case with 151k miles.

The first time I started the truck and shifted it into drive for the first time on jackstands, the transmission made this horrible grinding noise (which I have attributed to not having the fluid all the way full and there being no rear driveshaft) the grinding issues when shifting went away when I filled the ATF to spec.

I have been driving it around town in FWD - since I have no rear driveshaft. I keep the truck in 4HI without power to the rear wheels.

It works fine but the truck has developed this very very loud clanging or clicking noise from the bellhousing of the transmission, I suspect it is the torque converter or flexplate. This noise is always present regardless of gear. It can be heard as long as the engine is on. Can it be a cracked flexplate?

The clicking speeds up with the speed of the vehicle, and steadies out at idle. It sounds like a diesel engine to an extent. Imagine sticking a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle wheel, that noise 10x.

Listen to the sound clips below, the sound is being recorded from inside the cab on top of the center console.

Here is the truck idling and accelerating from a stop.

Here is the truck only idling.

Any what it could be?

 

@gearcruncher

 

Do you have the alluminum inspection cover plate on correctly ?
Sounds like the converter bolts are rubbing on the plate or the plate is bent and rubbing on the flywheel . Very common for someone doing this for a first time .
We call this a big rookie mistake .

 

I don't recall if I put it on correctly. The metal plate that covers the torque convert bolt access right? I bent the dust shield that goes in between the engine and transmission bellhousing a little when prying the A340E initially, but I never removed that dust shield. Only the torque converter plate

 

check to see if the plate is rubbing on the flywheel . Thats what it sounds like in your recording . Keep in mind , i am diagnosing the most common problems after a transmission installation

 

The inspection plate right?

 

This is the plate you are talking about, right? Found this pic online

 

both plates can and will rub on the flywheel . The inspection plate can rub but the dust shield is more common . When the inspection plate is removed , you can shine a flashlight up to see where its rubbing . Most common for bending is by the starter . Did you make sure the dowel pins are in place ? The dowel pins keep the dust shield centered. Keep in mind , we are diagnosing the most common issues after the transmission has been installed

 

yup picture is good

 

It may have been the starter, I had some trouble installing it. So just to make sure we are on the same page, the dust shield is the metal plate on between the engine and transmission with the whole that the starter goes through, and the inspection plate is the plate you remove when accessing the torque converter bolts?

 

yes sir .
Both plates can rub .

 

Thanks for the help, I'll double check when I get home. Am I okay to drive with that rubbing? I've been driving it the past couple days.

 

Yes , no issues driving it other than the embaressment from others who have to listen to a noisy Tacoma lol.

 

Thanks for the help, someone said I should stop driving it in fears the flexplate would explode and saw the bellhousing in half.

You're a life saver like always, glad there's knowledgable people like you on here. Thank you.

 

Glad I could help . Keep us posted .. The next guy with your noise will need to know what you did to fix it
Keep in mind that if the flex plate gets bent , you are going to hear the same noise . Its not as common as the two alluminum plates rubbing mind you .
Can I use this post in the transmission swap thread once you get the noise fixed ?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/transmission-swap-write-up-s.384303/
I cant say I have ever seen a flex plate in an automatic cut through a bellhousing . They usually break to the point where the converter will no longer turn and the vehicle comes to a stop .
I have seen some nasty carnage on the manual transmissions with racing clutches though and the need for a scattershield is a must

 

Go for it. I am in the middle of writing a really detailed 4WD swap write-up combining aspects of all the write-ups on your thread. They were missing a lot of details that would be imperative to know when doing the swap.

 

You don't think it can be the torque converter, do you?

 

Not likely , if the converter was making that much noise , you wouldnt be moving anywhere by now . Keep in mind , I am diagnosing this noise trusting you did the installation of the transmission correctly .
With this being said , I am not familiar with noises that are made due to improper installation

 

I hope I don't have to remove the transmission again. Easily the most pain in the ass thing to do on this truck.

It's not difficult to do, it's just labor intensive.

 

In my glory days , I had them out in 25 minutes but thats on a hoist .
You may be able to get away with backing out the bellhousing bolts and unloosen the converter enough to bend the plate back to normal .
They usually rub where the starter mounts to the bellhousing
Keep in mind that we are trusting you performed the install correctly