So I have a turbo gen 4 5.3 and a th400. I have a Hughes flex plate and a custom converter by the trans shop. After 4 months or so of beating on it the converter to flex plate adaptor broke in half which seems odd. Everything seems to fit well, no unusual vibrations, etc...anyone see anything obvious that I should change out or be concerned with? Also it's worth nothing the converter bolts have worked their way loose a few times and I use red loctite and snug them back up.

 

We need a better look at the torque-converter pilot.

Take some more photos that are not directly on that side/ face of the torque-converter.
We need to see how the pilot sticks-out/ see the dimensions.

You may not have had the torque-converter pilot well enough supported by the crankshaft/ flex-plate/ adapter.
The flex-plate to torque-converter spacing and pilot fitment need to be rechecked/ measured.

 

I dont know if this is what your looking for but this should help.

 

With a stock style 5.3 crank and flexplate that converter shouldnt of needed that spacer/collar at all assuming it was built there normal specs. The converter was probably pushing the spacer into the crank and eventually the spacer gave way(conv pushes on the center while the crank/flex pushes back on the outer sleeve) This is also going to push harder on the thrust bearing. I would drain the motor oil ASAP and see how it looks to start.

 

Oil looked ok. It actually bent a rod from pushing water due to a head gasket leak so the motor is getting built right now. It is a lc9, stock crank. So just leave that spacer out when I put it back together?

 

Ya you should not need it. An easy way to check ahead of time is hold the converter up to the engine/flexplate before you install the transmission and make sure the converter sits flat against the flexplate without bottoming out in the crank. If it does this try to slide the converter around on the flexplate, If its not engaged in the crank you will be able to move it around on the flexplate, if it is it should be rock solid.