Torque Converter Recommendations?

I finally had the time to finish up the rebuild, it is ready to go into the truck once I get my drive shaft cut to length. I will update when everything is put back together how the Recon torque converter feels, and hold up over time in case anyone needs to do something similar.

 

Just wanted to give a update, the truck has been all back together for a few weeks now and the Recon torque converter works perfectly. I will update once I get more miles on it as I have only put about 200 miles on it so far, but it is working well so far.

 

Good write up and the info with the 4x4 conversion! I’m in the process of swapping mine. How’s that recon converter holding up?

 

Actually, funny timing. I started getting a weird noise the last few days and I just dropped my trans pan to find aluminum and it looks like the recon torque converter broke a fin and filled my newly rebuilt trans with aluminum ‍ Won’t know for sure what caused it until the trans gets pulled in the next few days though.

 

those converter fins are made of high tensile steel as they are under some serious stress , however the converter clutch apply piston is designed with aluminum .
Was the trans noisy in all gears ?

 

Oh mannnnnnnnnnnnn. Sorry dude

 

The noise was audible in all gears, but was loudest in park and neutral. It was coming from the bell housing. I initially suspected a broken flexplate, but I couldn’t see any cracks from the inspection cover and when my grandpa heard it he said it was probably torque converter or fluid pump because it was too low pitched sound for a flexplate.

 

Well bummer man! I opt in to have a performance shop rebuild mine

 

So I just pulled the trans and it looks like the torque converter was misaligned and it made the torque converter shaft and the pump bushing prematurely wear on one side. So either the torque converter has too much runout, or I didn’t line everything up correct on assembly. I made sure the torque converter spun before I bolted it to the flexplate so I know there wasn’t stress on it, but it’s possible it was pulled into the crank straight. But either way new torque converter, pump seal and bushing, and a rear main on the way. I also ordered a new valve body gasket so I can open it up and clean it out really good. Looks like the filter caught pretty much everything because I haven’t seen anything in the valve body or bearings yet.

 

You are aware of the “special” normally black, flexplate to convertor bolt? Right? It must be installed in proper place to align everything.... I’m sorry this happened, I was pulling for you all the while

 

Um, actually no I didn’t know why that was black other than to know you are back at the beginning when torquing them in a pattern. That one goes is a specific spot?

 

I know it must be installed first and I BELIEVE in a specific place. I watched a YouTube video about it cuz I believe mines getting sloppy. Search YouTube for flexplate/converter replacement for first gens.... I think Timmah! made one, yeah, that magic bolt is the key to your happiness.....

 

Ok awesome I’ll try and find his video, thanks for the help!

 

@Hamburgler_101

Here you go.


https://youtu.be/O80aTszV3hc

 

Thanks for the video! It also looks like my flex plate has a yellow paint dot next to one of the bolt holes that I didn’t even think about but it looks like it’s a slightly closer fit to the black bolts diameter too. That should help a lot when I put it back to align the torque converter better.

 

Here's a picture of the black bolt being installed first.