Heavy Vibration after trans swap, possible torque converter.

[enjoi1968]

So I just swapped a known working D1 trans & converter. What a fun time that was, but regardless I got it all button up, fluids filled and went to start it up.

First my idle was slightly off so it skyrocketed the rpms which took the new vibration into high mode. The vibration itself is similar to that of a heavily loaded washer on high, no grinding or whining, just heavy vibration.

Not driveshaft related.

No forward or reverse gears and after adjusting idle the vibration is just about the same. MY thoughts without having to spend 2 days taking in all a part again (which I imagine is the answer in the end, so I've already begun) the torque converter must have moved forward when reinstalling the bell housing to the rear of the block. The two 1" dowel cuts in at the rear of pump gear that mate to the cutouts in the torque converter must have slid out and now it's basically on the splines of the pump.

Cool, so I'll replace the pump gear, clean converter and put it all back together.

Anyone else run into this issue before, I'd like to think my diagnosis without taking it all apart is probably the answer just looking for experience or advice from anyone that's familiar.

Apart from that, as I reading old threads, some people have mentioned spacing between torque converter and the flex plate, then shimming it with washers??? Mine old torque converter wasn't shimmed at all is this something I should look at also?

Thanks

 

[carlosz]

I dont wanna be a jinx but by your own description you may have damaged the pump.
as for the vibration you may be on your own path to discover the cause.

 

[enjoi1968]

Yeah I figure if it did jump off the dowels the pump is toast. Luckily I have a spare, so if thats the case hopefully I can swap and reassemble with minimal issues.

Ahh well at least none of the bolts will be seized on.

 

[enjoi1968]

Well with an update, got everything back apart

Torque converter splines and pump gear splines are completely fine, no chunking or scratching. No debris in the torque converter. Flex plate is straight.

Local trans rebuilder seems to keep pushing the idea it needs a new torque converter due to bluing on the inside of the pump gear side of the torque converter. I'm getting a feeling its more of a push off diagnosis then anything, not really sure if I'm ready to believe it.

Not really sure where I'm going with it for now, might just try and put it back together again in hopes my first diagnosis was the correct answer, that it had jumped the dowels, but I was extremely lucking in it not chewing the splines.

 

[JohnB]

Well with an update, got everything back apart

Torque converter splines and pump gear splines are completely fine, no chunking or scratching. No debris in the torque converter. Flex plate is straight.

Local trans rebuilder seems to keep pushing the idea it needs a new torque converter due to bluing on the inside of the pump gear side of the torque converter. I'm getting a feeling its more of a push off diagnosis then anything, not really sure if I'm ready to believe it.

Not really sure where I'm going with it for now, might just try and put it back together again in hopes my first diagnosis was the correct answer, that it had jumped the dowels, but I was extremely lucking in it not chewing the splines.

Did the tranny line right onto the motor? Or did you have to pull it together with the bolts?

 

[enjoi1968]

Did the tranny line right onto the motor? Or did you have to pull it together with the bolts?

Lined up straight, was slightly ( < 1" ) tilted to the right, but a 1 arm lifted it so that after 1 bolt was threaded in a few threads everything else lined up perfectly.

Only other issue was that I had to remove the inspection cover from the bell housing and had one person push slightly up on the torque converter to line it straight to the flex plate (should have thrown a red flag to me at that point but it was late and I was tired) but then again after 1 bolt was in everything else lined up.

 

[JohnB]

Lined up straight, was slightly ( < 1" ) tilted to the right, but a 1 arm lifted it so that after 1 bolt was threaded in a few threads everything else lined up perfectly.

Only other issue was that I had to remove the inspection cover from the bell housing and had one person push slightly up on the torque converter to line it straight to the flex plate (should have thrown a red flag to me at that point but it was late and I was tired) but then again after 1 bolt was in everything else lined up.

Well at least now you know what the problem is. I suspect that whomever pulled the used tranny somehow left the tranny hanging on the torque convertor while it was muscled out.

 

[enjoi1968]

Well at least now you know what the problem is. I suspect that whomever pulled the used tranny somehow left the tranny hanging on the torque convertor while it was muscled out.

Well I do know now that there is a rather large difference in an OBDI and OBDII torque converter in the HP22 :banghead:, an OBDI torque converter bolts directly to the flex plate (and assuming there is a slightly different flex plate as well) whereas the OBDII converter is slightly smaller (every so slightly) and uses a flange on the rear of the converter to bolt up to the flex plate. I really am kicking myself because I simply was spacing out when I noticed the two sitting next to each other realized one was not like the other. Plain and simple, this thread shouldn't be here because I should pay more attention to the details.

but on a better note, I am writing up a step by step trans swap tutorial and step by step transfer case install/swap tutorial.

 

[Timmy!!!!!!!]

Excited to see a step by step on the transfer case since I will be swapping out over the Christmas break.

 

[JohnB]

So it was just an interchange issue. Wackky