Shims between torque converter and flex plate
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Joined: Jul 2019
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Shims between torque converter and flex plate I have a 4L60E I am installing, and the gap between the flex plate and the torque converter is 0.231. I have read numerous places that it should be between 0.060 and 0.187, and to use shims to get it there. I have some 0.074 washers that I am going to use that will get me comfortably within the specified tolerance ... if I could figure out how to put them in!
The 4L60E has the inspection port on the bottom where I measure the gap, but I can't get to the bolt heads. I can get to the bolt heads where the starter mounts, but I can't get to the other side of the flex plate to locate the washer. It must be easy because nobody mentions how to do it or that they ever had any problem. Except for me ...
Any tips, tricks, or pointing out of the obvious that you can offer me to help get these washers installed would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Dave M
Tucson, AZ
The 4L60E has the inspection port on the bottom where I measure the gap, but I can't get to the bolt heads. I can get to the bolt heads where the starter mounts, but I can't get to the other side of the flex plate to locate the washer. It must be easy because nobody mentions how to do it or that they ever had any problem. Except for me ...
Any tips, tricks, or pointing out of the obvious that you can offer me to help get these washers installed would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Dave M
Tucson, AZ
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I was able to get the shims installed using tape to temporarily hold them in the correct location.
First, I put tape on the side of the washer below the hole and slipped it over a bolt.
Second, with the flexplate rotated so that the mounting hole was lined up with the inspection hole and the torque converter mounting pad rotated away, I slipped the bolt through the hole from the wrong side to locate the washer over the hole. Then I stuck the tape down and removed the bolt leaving the washer centered over the hole secured by the tape. I did this to all three mounting holes.
Third, I rotated the flexplate so that the mounting hole was accessible through the starter mounting location, and rotated the torque converter so that the mounting pads were centered over the flexplate holes. I applied loctite, and put the fastener in hand tight. I rotated the flexplate so that the mounted screw was visible through the inspection hole, and then removed the tape. I repeated installing the other two bolts and removing the tape.
Lastly, i torqued the bolts to final torque.
I don't know if there is an easier way, but it worked.
Thanks
Dave M
Tucson, Az
First, I put tape on the side of the washer below the hole and slipped it over a bolt.
Second, with the flexplate rotated so that the mounting hole was lined up with the inspection hole and the torque converter mounting pad rotated away, I slipped the bolt through the hole from the wrong side to locate the washer over the hole. Then I stuck the tape down and removed the bolt leaving the washer centered over the hole secured by the tape. I did this to all three mounting holes.
Third, I rotated the flexplate so that the mounting hole was accessible through the starter mounting location, and rotated the torque converter so that the mounting pads were centered over the flexplate holes. I applied loctite, and put the fastener in hand tight. I rotated the flexplate so that the mounted screw was visible through the inspection hole, and then removed the tape. I repeated installing the other two bolts and removing the tape.
Lastly, i torqued the bolts to final torque.
I don't know if there is an easier way, but it worked.
Thanks
Dave M
Tucson, Az
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I thought about superglue which would work great if the transmission wasn't already mounted, but I was afraid that trying to superglue them on while I was directly under it might result in me being superglued if it dripped. Maybe that would have been easier ...
I measured the three shims and they were within 0.0005 of each other which is the best I could measure with what I had. I did see that a lot of people try to get them to 0.125 max, but for bone stock applications, I also see a lot of sites specifying 0.060 to 0.187 too. Hopefully the 0.157 will work okay in this application.
I appreciate the feedback. If you think the 0.157 is a big problem, let me know.
Thanks
Dave
I measured the three shims and they were within 0.0005 of each other which is the best I could measure with what I had. I did see that a lot of people try to get them to 0.125 max, but for bone stock applications, I also see a lot of sites specifying 0.060 to 0.187 too. Hopefully the 0.157 will work okay in this application.
I appreciate the feedback. If you think the 0.157 is a big problem, let me know.
Thanks
Dave
I thought about superglue which would work great if the transmission wasn't already mounted, but I was afraid that trying to superglue them on while I was directly under it might result in me being superglued if it dripped. Maybe that would have been easier ...
I measured the three shims and they were within 0.0005 of each other which is the best I could measure with what I had. I did see that a lot of people try to get them to 0.125 max, but for bone stock applications, I also see a lot of sites specifying 0.060 to 0.187 too. Hopefully the 0.157 will work okay in this application.
I appreciate the feedback. If you think the 0.157 is a big problem, let me know.
Thanks
Dave
I measured the three shims and they were within 0.0005 of each other which is the best I could measure with what I had. I did see that a lot of people try to get them to 0.125 max, but for bone stock applications, I also see a lot of sites specifying 0.060 to 0.187 too. Hopefully the 0.157 will work okay in this application.
I appreciate the feedback. If you think the 0.157 is a big problem, let me know.
Thanks
Dave
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FTI COMPETITION CONVERTERS AND TRANSMISSIONS
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FTI COMPETITION CONVERTERS AND TRANSMISSIONS
"IT'S NOT CHEATING, IT'S THE COMPETITIVE EDGE."
1-866-726-8358
info@ftiperformance.com
FTIPerformance.com
FTI Converter build sheet
