Just installed the short block. Now the crank won't spin.

Bene

Well-known member
Nov 29, 2005
98
0
38
Provo, UT
Neither will the torque converter.

It was spinning just fine when we were mating the block to the bell housing.

With the block mated to the bell housing and on its mounts, I tried to spin the torque converter and crank to line up the holes on the flex plate but can't get either to budge.

I thought I had the TC in all the way, but I guess not. What did I just break?
 

pdxrovermech

Well-known member
Jul 3, 2009
1,807
57
Portland, OR
you probably didnt have the torque converter all the way on and now you most likely have it in a bind and a broken tranny oil pump. After mating the block and tranny you should have like a 1/16"-1/32" gap between the TC and the flexplate. at the very least you should be able to rotate the TC by hand.
 

eburrows

Well-known member
You might have (as I just did) installed the flex plate and it's retaining ring/big washer installed in reverse order. The smaller ring goes on top, not underneath. I swapped mine, and it was fine. I was worried about having crushed something, but so far, so good.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
you probably didnt have the torque converter all the way on and now you most likely have it in a bind and a broken tranny oil pump. After mating the block and tranny you should have like a 1/16"-1/32" gap between the TC and the flexplate. at the very least you should be able to rotate the TC by hand.
x2
 

Bene

Well-known member
Nov 29, 2005
98
0
38
Provo, UT
you probably didnt have the torque converter all the way on and now you most likely have it in a bind and a broken tranny oil pump. After mating the block and tranny you should have like a 1/16"-1/32" gap between the TC and the flexplate. at the very least you should be able to rotate the TC by hand.
How will I know if the tranny pump is broken?
 

pdxrovermech

Well-known member
Jul 3, 2009
1,807
57
Portland, OR
when you take the TC off you'll be able to look in there and see two tabs that slot into the TC. They can break off if not aligned properly. You might get lucky and have no damage at all. If you can get the TC fitted back on properly and spin it freely then go for it. Use a square and measure how far the flex plate sicks out away from the block, then do the reverse for the TC face and bellhousing. That should let you know if the TC is fully engaged.
 

luckyjoe

Well-known member
Oct 10, 2004
455
118
New Jersey USA
The ZF literature also gives depth measurements when the TC is properly seated. I like to orient the trans vertical/bell-housing-up. Next, stuff rags between the TC and bell housing so it cannot move during final positioning, just count them and don’t forget to remove any!
 
Apr 20, 2004
6,926
223
Floyd, Virginia
I normally use a long screw in the access plate holes to hold the tc in place... a lot of folks think when it makes that first clunk its seated....but 9 times out of 10 it wants to drop (move) one more time.

If for some reason you did damage the trans let me know...I will hook you up with a great deal on one... I have several less than 100k right now since I have been all the 4.6 trucks I can find for the engines.

Will