The Dodge Challenger Message Board

When joining these two I know its probaby not as straight forward as just lining up the bolt paterns, what else does one need to do during this procedure.

Ive not seen it done before and I will need to do it at some stage...

I assume you mean auto trans?

First of all replace the front seal on the trans. If you don't do it now then when you find it leaking later and will have to do it all again. Not worth the hassle for a cheap seal.

Next, if you have drained the oil from the torque converter put about a litre of trans fluid back in.

Now fit the converter to the trans. This is not as easy as it sounds unless you are very lucky.

Coat the outside of the converter neck with trans oil so you don't damage your new seal and slide it in real sexy like.
The converter has to engage in THREE seperate splined parts so you have to push and turn and pullback a bit and turn and push again etc until the converter is all the way in. You know when it is all the way in when the bolt lugs on the convertor are about a half inch IN compared to a straight edge placed across the bellhousing face.

Now you have to make sure it stays in that position until you bolt it to the block.

Once the block and trans are bolted up you use the access hatch at the bottom of the trans to bolt the flex plate (fixed to the back end of the crank) to the converter with the 4 special hardened bolts that have a very low profile head.

If you use normal bolts the heads will catch the edge of the block as they rotate. So make sure you have the right bolts. Use thread lock and star washers on them too so they don't come loose.

Sounds like youve done that before Dave...

It sounds scary but must be done!!!

Thanks..

any photos would rock!!

IF AT ALL possible. Attempt to join them before installing.

Actually. You should install the engine,trans, and K-frame from under the car.

But if you must install the engine from the top it is easier to put the trans in first from under the car and then the engine from the top and mate the two in the car.

If you mate the engine and trans first and then install from the top it is a much bigger job and you probably need to take the hood off.

dave-r wrote:Actually. You should install the engine,trans, and K-frame from under the car.

But if you must install the engine from the top it is easier to put the trans in first from under the car and then the engine from the top and mate the two in the car.

If you mate the engine and trans first and then install from the top it is a much bigger job and you probably need to take the hood off.

Great points Dave. Oh yeah much easier from the bottom!

Make sure as Dave said you use the proper bolts to bolt the converter to the flex plate. Your converter supplier should be able to supply them to you. Also, do not use an air wrench to install the bolts. Use a normal socket/wrench and your common sense. Make it tight, but not excessively tight. Do not use red locktight. You'll regret using it if you ever have to remove those 4 bolts in the future.
Clamping down the bolts too much will increase your chances of "dimpling" the front cover of the converter, not too big of a deal on a non-lockup converter, but it will add a weak spot(s) to the cover.

transman

I have a spare set of bolts if you ever need them.