Just finished my swap. Started the car and it makes a horrible almost knocking noise. Sounds like it's coming from torque converter area. When I start it, it's fine for about 5 seconds, then the noise begins and gets louder and louder to the point I have to shut the car off after about 10 seconds. I don't see the converter bolts hitting or any marks on anything. I know the tranny was good when we pulled it out of the car I got it from. Yank converter, and Tci flex plate. Only thing I did notice was the starter gear is meshed with the flex plate. Is it suppose to be all the time? I know traditional starters have a bendix that engages then pulls the gear back off the flex after starting. But are ls1 starter gears always meshed with the flex plate? Any help please. Thanks!

 

Well I just found out the starter is meshed with the flex plate all the time. Does the stock starter not work with the TCI flex plate or does an automatic take a different starter? What am I missing here

 

My starter certainly does not always mesh with the flexplate.
I cannot imagine any starter meshing at all times - at 6000 engine RPM the starter would be around 60,000 RPM!

 

EXCACTLY. I may be dealing with two issues. If it was the starter gear making the rod knocking noise, it wouldn't be knocking noise and rather a constant growl. Could it be something hitting the rear cover bolts? Anyone has an issue with a TCI flex plate and ARP converter bolts?!?! This is driving me crazy.

 

Anyone?

 

Try cranking the engine around with a socket from the balancer bolt.

 

Got it!!! Torque converter bolt head was too big. I think they have me the wrong ARP bolts. Put the stockers in. Damn it pulls good with the automatic and the PT4000!! I'm in love!

 

Glad you figured it out. The converter bolts were the first thing that came to my mind, but you seemed confident they were OK in your first post.