Stop in for a cup of coffee

[ScampMike]

Ok, why do you need to pull the converter? Is it the wrong one?

SO - nice new torque converter -- f-ing POS bolts up to three out of four flex plate holes no problem - CAN'T get the fourth one. Is it possible to get three and still not be oriented correctly?

well, that dirty beotch ain't going in - there are only 4 possible orientations, 2 are very obviously not it - you can SEE they aren't going to work, 1 other is close but also not it, 1 is it and although always tight, as it should be, it is it... except this time - it don't fit

 

[ScampMike]

I spent the better part of 4hrs. trying to get it to bolt up - they aren't that hard to get, it's 4 flippin' bolts

 

[GeorgeH]

I spent the better part of 4hrs. trying to get it to bolt up - they aren't that hard to get, it's 4 flippin' bolts

damn

 

[krazykuda]

SO - nice new torque converter -- f-ing POS bolts up to three out of four flex plate holes no problem - CAN'T get the fourth one. Is it possible to get three and still not be oriented correctly?

There should be a small hole in the flex plate, you line that hole up 180° from the drain plug in the converter...

 

[ScampMike]

damn

yea - I maintained, but it about pissed me off

 

[Princess Valiant]

who knows a backing plate to backing plate measure on a dodge Dakota with a 8 1/4 ??

 

[krazykuda]

well, that dirty beotch ain't going in - there are only 4 possible orientations, 2 are very obviously not it - you can SEE they aren't going to work, 1 other is close but also not it, 1 is it and although always tight, as it should be, it is it... except this time - it don't fit

You could drill the hole that doesn't line up one size bigger... - it's a GD&T trick....

 

[ScampMike]

There should be a small hole in the flex plate, you line that hole up 180° from the drain plug in the converter...

not

 

[krazykuda]

Got the wheels on...wow! I love the new shoes!

View attachment 1715040973

I like the wheel pattern....

 

[krazykuda]

not

Oh, you're using one of THOSE flex plates....

 

[ScampMike]

You could drill the hole that doesn't line up one size bigger... - it's a GD&T trick....

might as well just run it with 3 bolts then

 

[ScampMike]

Oh, you're using one of THOSE flex plates....

yep - and it fit the previous tc

 

[Princess Valiant]

flex plate......what's a flex plate LOL

 

[krazykuda]

Thanks! It really changes the whole look and stance with the 15" wheels and wider tires. It now sits a full 12" off the ground at the bottom of the rockers and the wheel wells are nicely filled with the wheels.

Are you saying that you are off your rocker????

 

[krazykuda]

She sure did! Drop-dead sexy!

My Speed Shop guy said "It was a really nice looking vintage car before and I really liked the stock wheels...but wow, it absolutely looks like a muscle car now!"

It really takes a lot to get him to say "wow" about anything with all the cars he's built over the years...

Wow...

 

[Ddaddy]

yep - and it fit the previous tc

It sounds like the difference between a neutral balanced converter and one that is externally balanced for the engine. The bolt pattern is different on just one bolt...

 

[krazykuda]

who knows a backing plate to backing plate measure on a dodge Dakota with a 8 1/4 ??

The shadow knows.... Muhwahah.....

 

[ScampMike]

flex plate......what's a flex plate LOL

currently, the bane of my existence..

 

[krazykuda]

I spent the better part of 4hrs. trying to get it up - they aren't that hard to get

That's what she said...

 

[ScampMike]

It sounds like the difference between a neutral balanced converter and one that is externally balanced for the engine. The bolt pattern is different on just one bolt...

so maybe they sent me the wrong tc?

 

[Princess Valiant]

well .....I have found that an 8.8 out of a ferd ranger is actually eerily close to an A-body rear width .....with gear selection and posi unit availability excellent.

if a Dakota is comparable ...within an inch or so ...then the 8 1/4 would prolly be the way to go ....but I don't have a Dakota handy to measure.

if a Dakota measures right ...the 9 1/4 is also there but I don't know anything about that dude

 

[krazykuda]

It sounds like the difference between a neutral balanced converter and one that is externally balanced for the engine. The bolt pattern is different on just one bolt...

I've seen converter bolts at two different diameters 10" and 11" bolt circles...

along with offset and symmetrical bolt pattern for the crankshaft....

Mancini Racing

 

[krazykuda]

so maybe they sent me the wrong tc?

Can you open up the one hole in the flex plate one size bigger so it will allow the bolt to go in, or is it too far out for that???

Drill, baby, drill...

 

[Ddaddy]

so maybe they sent me the wrong tc?

Could be. The neutral balance converter has all 4 bolts evenly spaced and the external balance converter has one that is off center from the opposite side so that it only fits one way.

 

[krazykuda]

might as well just run it with 3 bolts then

No, not if they are torqued properly... It's the torque that makes the clamp load so the parts do not move in relation to each other...

Clamp load is in the z-axis, not the x or y axis... If you get my drift...