340 to 360 crate swap problem

[pauly v.100]

i took my 340 out of the val for a rebuild and bought a crate motor to put in it for now. i'm having a helluva time getting the trans to bolt up properly. i'm using the same 904/10" dynamic converter as was in the car. i got the TCI flexplate for the external balanced motor. its drilled for small and large bolts.
i'm certain that the converter slipped on the splines and pump cogs, but the tranny is binding up the motor with a 3/8 inch gap between motor and trans surface. the flex plate has the same offset as the one i took off.
does the crate motor require a deeper offset flexplate, or what?
my arms are draggin from re-mounting that tranny, ..please help with any info.
thanks..
-pauly

[dewme5]

your converter isn't dropped in all the way. When it is, if you lay a straight edge across the front of the bellhosing, there will be a 3/8" gap between the straight edge and the center bump on the torque converter.

once you get this, be careful not to bump it back out, becuase as you'll soon find out, it's a pain in the ass to get in.

to ease installing the trans, take some longer spare bolts (like waterpump, or alt.), cut the heads off, and screw them into the engine, leaving about 4" exposed. as soon as you get the right bolt holes over the guides, you are home free. slide the tranny forward, pop it onto the dowels, put in a few other bolts, and then remove you guides, finish the bellhousing bolts, and then go on to the torque converter bolts.

[dave571]

When installing the converter it wil slide on to 3 sets of splines.

The first is the pump drive, so you won't feel it, but you should feel the other two with a definate clunk.

As said earlier, it should not even be close to flexplate

[pauly v.100]

the converter slipped into two distinct sets of gears. am i missing one ?
with the converter on the trans, the mounting hole pads on converter are 1/8" below straight edge.

thanks for the help
-pauly

[amxauto-x]

You missed one. Push in gently while turning. It'll go in another 3/8 or so. Sounds like it isn't 'into' the lugs for the front pump.

[dave571]

Here's a posssibility.

Could you have the flexplate on backwards, so the offset is the wrong way?

The plate should be offset, so the boltholes for the converter are closer to the block than the crankshaft flange.(offset towards the engine, not the trans)

It looks goofy when you put it on, and I have seen guys put them on backwards, and get stuck.

This would for sure cause what you are describing.

[darren509]

Probally wrong here, but diddnt a gentleman have the same problem only to find out the crank was not drilled for pilot bearing or somthing like that ?

[dave571]

It's an automatic, no pilot brg.

It's a really big hole for the converternose.

You're thinking along the right lines though.

[pauly v.100]

thanks for all the replies...all good.
i got out my bioculars so i could get a good look at the splines. the pump spline looked kinda suspect so i took it to a trans shop and yep, sure enough, the pump, spline and thrust washer are getting changed as i write this. and, barring any more grief, will be on the back of that crate motor by sundown!
thanks again and aloha!
-pauly