I'm right in the middle of installing a TCI streetfighter. I slid the new convertor on and I believe I heard the 3 splines engage. The convertor spins freely and sits back a good half inch inside the trans housing. When I went to bolt the trans back to the motor, I got it lined up good but when there was still about a 1/8 inch gap between the trans and the motor the convertor was tight up against the flywheel. I have not gone any further with it. I thought there was supposed to be a small gap between the convertor and the flywheel when the trans and motor were bolted together tight. Am I wrong about this? What should I do next. I don't want to break the pump or anything else. Thanks for any help you can give me. John

 

Same thing happened to me when I was installing my friends verter, so I just took it the tranny back off and converter off and tried it again. make sure you hear those distinct clicks.

 

i just posted looking for a write up on installing a TC. It just so happens that im gong to be installing the TCI 3500, So please post when you figure this out, and let me know of any other pit falls you run into.

 

Before you put the tranny back in, lay a straight edge across the tranny housing flange and measure from that surface to the T/C mounting lug. It should be 1.125 inches. And yes, you should have to pull the converter back up to the flywheel slightly with the tranny case flush against the engine.

 

http://modernmusclecars.net/articles...all/index.html

This write up says 1.0 inches, are you sure that its 1.25? Not that I know either way, im just trying to gather as much info as I can before I start mine, and I want to make sure its strait.

 

Look closer. I said 1.125 inches which is 1-1/8. I think the +- tolerance is .050 but not 100% sure on that. All the ones I've done, and I've done a lot, are right at 1-1/8.

 

cool, thamls for clearing that up for me. i just realy dont want to mess this up ya know.

 

Just follow the write up, they pretty much got it, but like I said just make sure you have enough clearance.

 

Thanks guys. I'll drop it back down and try again.

 

I dropped the tranny back down. I took the converter back off and slid it back on. I heard the 3 clicks and I am 100% sure it is seated all the way back. I put a straight edge across it and I still only get 1/2 inch inside the housing. I pulled it back off and took a bunch of measurements and I don't see how it could go back any further. I tried putting the stock converter back on and it was the same way. I don't know what else to do. Should I try to bolt it together?

 

No. Keep trying. If you do not have 1-1/8 inches from the bell housing flange to the front surface of the T/C mounting lug, it is not on all the way. You will damage the pump if you force it on. Try wiggling the converter up and down while turning it and pushing it on.

 

I got it. I just had to swear at it a few more times. It measures 1 1/8. Thanks for all the help. John

 

there ya go!

 

so, why wouldnt it go on all the way the first 3 times?

 

The last spline must not have quite been in right. I scribed a line on the front of the converter that faces you when trying to put it in parallel to the 2 notches that you have to line up. Before putting it back on I looked in the trans to see how it needed to be orientated. It took me a few minutes and it finally lined up right.