Thread: Torque converter problem?

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A while back I had a small shop close to where I work put a new/rebuilt TH350 and torque converter in 67 el camino along with swapping in a 396 in place of the old 283 and powerglide.
OK heres the problem. It was trailered home after the swap as it still needed glass installed and a few other things prior to its maiden voyage. Besides it wasn't regestered or licensed so i didn't want to run the risk of a ticket. Ok back to the qustion.

While I had it up on stands fixing a brake line leak, thought it might be a good idea to test every thing out before putting back on ground. Checked all the fluids everything was good. Started it let run for a few minutes, sounded good. When i put in gear the wheels hardly turned. So I check the trans fluid level it's dry. It took approx. 6 quarts to bring the level up. Tryed again this it goes but when I apply the brake it stalls the engine. I think the torque converer is locked up and will not disengage when the brake is applied. Does this sound right?
I think the shop did not fill the converter when they installed, and it pumped all the fluid from the trans to it when I started it. Do you think this could have caused major damage? Is there any thing I can do short of pulling the trans and replacing the convertr? Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions, and sorry for being so long winded.

It shouldn't matter that the torque converter wasn't filled. When you crank up the engine, it should fill right up. I just had my C6 rebuilt and the guy told me this........42 years in the business, I just followed his directions.

What is your stall rpm on the converter? When you filled it, did you let the engine run, put the gear selector in all positions and let it sit in each position for a few seconds to let the fluid in to all of the inner workings? What is your idle on the engine set at? It may need to be raised depending on which converter you have. How much fluid did you add? It's not uncommon for some systems to take quite a bit. My C6 has just over 3 gallons in it. Also, the quicker the gears engage, the more you know the fluid level has pretty much filled or gone through your system after it has been completely dry. When first filling the system, it might take a few seconds before they engage because it was dry, initially.

Also, just for the heck of it, if I were you I wouldn't hesitate to call the shop and ask them their advice...you did pay them to set it up correctly.

Your power booster vaccume diaphram may be leaking also,,,,if it is,,,stepping on the brake will kill the engine for sure.

You could have to low stall speed for the cam in your 396. What are the specs for the cam?

Man My dad had an El Camino with a 396, would lay two strips of rubber shifting into second at 55mph.

Have you ever filled a torqueconveter? It takes 3 qts and it is a slow process. A dry trans and converter takes 12 qts of fluid. I don't know if it is a good idea to run the engine to fill the tq. Ask who ever is warrantying the transmission. My guy spicificaly told me to fill the converter first.

Originally posted by Thunderbucket
Your power booster vaccume diaphram may be leaking also,,,,if it is,,,stepping on the brake will kill the engine for sure.

But wouldn't it kill the engine when in park or neutral also?

Originally posted by blue57ford
You could have to low stall speed for the cam in your 396. What are the specs for the cam?

I don't know. The engine when I got it was in a 70 Chevelle with a powerglide and every thing ran good. I didn't change anything when I pulled it and put it in the elky. The guy I bought the engine/chevelle from said he thought it was stock.

Easy way to find out. Block the port to your vacuum booster. If you get the same result, you can eliminate that as the culprit. But it seems that you would barely stay running with a leaking vacum booster. Best way to be sure, start the car, run it for a few minutes, then shut it off. if theres a vacuum reserve, thats not the issue. your next stage is to top off the fluids, raise your idle speed slightly, then try and work through the gears. Correct me if im wrong, but if the torque convertor was locked, it the motor wouldnt turn in park

The engine will still turn in neutral or park with a locked converter. When you put the engine and trans together, were you careful that everything lined up and slid together easy?

If the shop that put this thing together is near where you work, why don't you stop in and talk to them? I'm a do-it-yourself kind of guy, but, if I payed somebody to do the work and it doesn't work right... Again, it could be something really simple too.

Originally posted by 53fatfndr
If the shop that put this thing together is near where you work, why don't you stop in and talk to them? I'm a do-it-yourself kind of guy, but, if I payed somebody to do the work and it doesn't work right... Again, it could be something really simple too.

Unfortunatly the shop that did it is no longer around. I normally do most things myself, just this time I didn't have the time. Lesson learned I guess.

Well, if other people were having the same problem or other problems from this same place...this might explain why they are no longer around.

Just some more suggestions Bryan:

1) What is your current idle speed set at when idling, and what does it drop to when you put it in gear?
2) Check all of your lines and make sure you don't have a vacuum leak somewhere.

Just start with the easy stuff before you look into the more serious issues.