Crank Thrusting Foreward Issues

TrailBeast said

As much experience with engines and dyno's that you apparently have is probably about equal to what I have in transmissions. :D
Where's all the metal from wearing that thrust and bearing like that?
How could that much of a new #3 bearing thrust surface still be there with that much wear on the crank.
How could the pump not be engaged for so long as to wear the crank like that and have the trans still drive? (Impossible)

He put it together right and the trans is fine. (as long as there wasn't and old pilot bearing the crank register from a past stick shift)
It just got the surface overlooked on assy.

That's my warrantee decision and I'm sticking to it.:D

OH, and you can get a brand new crank from Autozone for right at 200.
Less for a reground used.

Click to expand...

What I have seen happen is really simple. The converter is not fully into the pump. The Texans is bolted to the block and the converter is very close to the flex plate. Close enough to bolt the converter on.

And there you have it. It don't matter what you use for assembly lube, how well everything is machined or what bearing you have. Any, and it don't take much to mean any, force against the thrust bearing when the engine fires and it is over. The load from the crank smears the bearing and it's over. Now the long slow process of adding wear begins. You don't instantly get .100 wear. It takes time.

That's what happened to the OP. And more than likely, once the engine fired, the converter slid back into the tangs and he got lucky and didn't kill the pump. Most of the time it kills the pump. Maybe the OP got lucky.

Call any bearing manufacturer and ask about thrust failures. They will tell you the same. Most of the time it comes from improper torque converter installation.