New Torque Converter Took a Crap

[MT_Mopar]

New Tranny - Torque Converter Took a Crap

Well crap – Started up the Coronet for a car show, let it warm up a bit and pulled out. When I put the car into reverse there seemed like there was nothing there, I goosed the pedal a little and made it out of the shop.

When I got the car out of the shop I looked and there was a gallon of tranny fluid laying on the floor in my shop.

I immediately shut down and pushed the car back in the garage, that was a couple of weeks ago. I just got the tranny pulled tonight and this is what I found.

The torque converter would not come off the tranny without some serious jiggling and pulling back and forth. After I got the converter pulled there was a seal that fell out (from the converter I am thinking).

The tranny is a TCI TF727 super street fighter and the converter is a TCI 3000 stall #142200.

I am going to contact TCI Monday. Not sure why this happened. Dang it! Anyone else had a similar problem?

Going to the car show about killed me without my car.

 

[Kern Dog]

I've been told as a joke that TCI stands for Total Crap Inside.
I have an 11" TCI converter here that seemed okay.

 

[MoparMitch]

What you have there , is a bushing and seal from inside the fluid pump stuck on the snout.. Looks like the snout/drive of the converter was too tight in the bushing and it bound up. Then when you disassembled it , you pulled the bushing out with the seal.

 

[Cranky]

That's what it looks like happened. Was there any junk in the trans pan?

 

[MT_Mopar]

So the bushing and seal is part of the transmission?

I need to pull the tranny pan and look inside.

Thanks

 

[Cranky]

So the bushing and seal is part of the transmission?

I need to pull the tranny pan and look inside.

Thanks

Yes. The nose of the converter has to ride on something. Most of the weight of the converter is supported by the engine and the bushing acts more of a guide to keep it in the right place so to speak. The front of the trans that you see sitting inside of the bell housing is the pump housing and the bushing and seal are mounted to it.

 

[Garys1969RR]

So the bushing and seal is part of the transmission?

I need to pull the tranny pan and look inside.

Thanks

You need to pull the FRONT PUMP. That is what the converter slides into, and the "slots" on the converter engage with the front fluid pump, and when you start it the pump spins and builds fluid pressure. Your front seal is obviously bad. As well as the bushing. Remove the 7 bolts, take the front pump off and take it to a good tranny shop along with the T/C. They can replace the bushing, seal, and check the fit of the T/C in the bushing.

- - - Updated - - -

I don't think the T/C was to blame, the front seal leaked right off the bat, causing the loss of fluid. Make sure all the splines are engaged when you install the T/C to the trans shaft. And lube the outside of the T/C snout with tranny fluid.

- - - Updated - - -

I bought a used Street Fighter TCI torque converter, just like yours, and it has worked great! I think the T/C snout seized to the bushing for some reason. The T/C snout needs to be oiled before installing it.

 

[MT_Mopar]

Sounds like its not the end of the world, I am going to work with TCI and see if they can help me here.

When you put so much time, energy and money in something, and then this happens it bums you out for a bit. But then again, that's cars for ya.

Thanks everyone for the comments!

 

[Greg Ducato]

You need to pay close attention to the ground of the engine and trans, be sure there is no paint on the face of the transmission case or paint on the back of the block. This is a crucial mating surface for the grounding of the trans, engine. The engine will seek ground otherwise and that is usually from the converter snout through the pump bushing, as it arcs it literally welds the bushing to the snout. Always run a good ground from block to chassis, battery to chassis and trans to chassis to avoid this and clean the block and trans case face.

 

[MT_Mopar]

You need to pay close attention to the ground of the engine and trans, be sure there is no paint on the face of the transmission case or paint on the back of the block. This is a crucial mating surface for the grounding of the trans, engine. The engine will seek ground otherwise and that is usually from the converter snout through the pump bushing, as it arcs it literally welds the bushing to the snout. Always run a good ground from block to chassis, battery to chassis and trans to chassis to avoid this and clean the block and trans case face.

Greg, This is great information, I did have a good ground from engine to chassis and battery to chassis, I did not have a ground from the trans to chassis.

I will make sure the mating surfaces are clean.

Thanks

 

[69 GTX]

Hope your up and running soon.

 

[MT_Mopar]

Hope your up and running soon.

Thanks 69! Well... no big rush, its SOB'in 3F degrees here now.

Had some emails and phone conversations with TCI, they are going to replace the TC and send me a new bushing, seal and pump/pan gaskets. They most likely won't cover any shop labor though. Kinda blows if you ask me, had the thing put together for 6 weeks and it does this.

Anyway, I'll get this mochine rolling again!

 

[Brandy]

Ah hah! So that's why yer lookin for a tq.

Well crap – Started up the Coronet for a car show, let it warm up a bit and pulled out. When I put the car into reverse there seemed like there was nothing there, I goosed the pedal a little and made it out of the shop.

When I got the car out of the shop I looked and there was a gallon of tranny fluid laying on the floor in my shop.

I immediately shut down and pushed the car back in the garage, that was a couple of weeks ago. I just got the tranny pulled tonight and this is what I found.

The torque converter would not come off the tranny without some serious jiggling and pulling back and forth. After I got the converter pulled there was a seal that fell out (from the converter I am thinking).

The tranny is a TCI TF727 super street fighter and the converter is a TCI 3000 stall #142200.

I am going to contact TCI Monday. Not sure why this happened. Dang it! Anyone else had a similar problem?

Going to the car show about killed me without my car.

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[Garys1969RR]

Sounds as if TCI is standing behind their products and will make things right by you. That's great and good to hear! Did you have another T/C in this transmission before? Or was this a different trans than what you had in the car before.