Thread: Th350 experts needed....help!!!

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I wondered about the ability for a trans shop to hook up a gauge to some port, like you mention, Pat. Tomorrow I may go by one trans shop I see locally and pick their brain and see if I can slip some cash to one of their guys to stop at our shop and see what he can find. It has to be something dumb, like the TC not engaging. When we pulled the pan down everything inside there is really spotless and the gaskets all look new, so I think they did a good job on the transmission.

However, I told Dan some of the suggestions you guys have given us, and we will do those tomorrow night for sure. Also, Dan says to thank all of you for all the great suggestions and help. I appreciate it as well.

I think I am going to take up checkers..........how much trouble can that get you into????

Don

I've been trying to find any additional info I could on the internet and just found a thread on some forum where a guy has exactly the same problem we do....ie, no gears and no fluid going to cooler. He installed a second rebuilt trans and it did exactly the same thing. It was suggested that he may not have the tc seated all the way back to engage the pump tangs. The one poster said there are three clicks you need to make by spinning the tc. The first one engages the input shaft, the second one engages something else, and the third one engages the pump. He said it is easy to think you have all three engaged because the tc will clear the flexplate.

That is very much what a lot of you on here hinted at, so tomorrow night the tc will get unbolted and we will see what we have. Thanks again, all.

Don

well the bad news is if the stall was not back on the pump lugs you can screw up the pump it happens .if the converter needs to be all the way back when you bolt the trans up and pull the converter up to the flex /auto fly wheel. so if the fly wheel was put on the wrong way /off set on the fly wheel. then the pads on the fly wheel where the converter bolts up will be the wrong way pulling the converter away from the pump and keeping the pump from working as the converter spins you may see some movement more of free wheeling as the input is in the stator but the converter drive lugs are not in the front pump to build PSI for the clutch packs and bands to make the trans work so i would bet on this

That is my fear, Pat, that some damage has now been done to the pump lugs. I know for sure the flexplate is on the right direction as B and M mark it very well, but I am not sure how far forward we had to pull the tc with the bolts because it was so long ago. I imagine that to replace the pump the trans comes out? I don't see that happening from under the car with it still in.

We haven't thrown in the towel yet on trying to get it going for Billetproof, but it sure isn't looking good.

Don

how much fluid have you put in ? ..takes 10 to 12 quarts if i remember corectly .. we always started our cars and went immediately to reverse with new rebuilds .. something about reverse picked up fluid quicker ..

Is it making any noise when the the engine is running? wrirring noise or anything? It sure sounds like either pump to me. If the convertor was not seated in the the pump tabs and the engine has been started a few times,you can bet there is some damage by now.

but i would`nt take it back out till i could finish buttoning every thing up .. go ahead and put the chunk and driveshaft in and try some more .. may simply be an air pocket at the pump .. get full pressure up and see what gives ..did you pour some fluid in the convertor before you slid it in ?

Don, I don't want to pour on an already damp parade, but It's gonna have to come out. I have been there before and kidded myself that I could do something without pulling it. It doesn't sound like it's pumping any fluid. You may even damage clutches by running it like that. I believe you will either find pump drive damaged, or if memory serves, I believe you can install drive gear back wards in the pump, and I think the drive taps are offset, so installed back wards the converter will not engage the tabs. Either way you need to check the converter, and the pump drive. And I know the feeling, I have had several in my life that at one point I would have pushed off a cliff.......... Actually have one now, a silly trans leak, just a drip, but I can't find the source, and stop it..............

Well, I feel for Danny, this is a definite morale stomper.

Early in the thread my thought was the same as Pat's first comment. Now I'm wondering if at any of the times the engine and trans were bolted together with the TC in there were the bolts used to draw the trans up to the mounting flange rather than it seating fully "on it's own". If so, the pump would have been damaged probably due to improper seating of the TC.

The second thought is that something (improperly located check ball, incorrectly installed circuit plate, some debris, lots of choices) is blocking fluid flow in the valve body. If it were just the pump a chance that could be done in the car, but unfortunately you'll more likely have to pull it out.

Sorry guys.

Don,
I'm not adding anything that has not already been said, but it really sounds like the tc did not get fully engaged with the pump before being bolted to the flexplate, and if you don't know for sure that's a first step. It's a bitter pill, but I don't see any way you're going to get to the bottom of this without pulling the transmission and either taking it to a shop, or bringing a tranny guy by your shop to provide some help getting it apart and diagnosed. Sorry for Dan, being so close to "done" only to run into this kind of problem.

Great comments and suggestions from everyone, thanks guys.

Yep, the fluid is full and has been. We filled the convertor before installing it. If there are any noises we can't hear them over the open headers, but I think there are none because everything is so smooth (well, lumpy, but smooth, if you know what I mean)

I'm leaning more and more toward the front pump..........either it is bad or not pumping because of the convertor not driving it. I called B and M and leveled with the tech guy that it isn't their transmission but it is their convertor and flexplate........they were very nice and helpful. He asked all the things you guys have asked, about prefilling the convvertor and transmission, how the convertor felt going in, etc. At the end he said to try running it for a while in neutral instead of park because sometimes they don't pump the same in park. He also said he felt the front pump was either dead or not being driven. He also said it was likely the front pump is now damaged.

Luckily, Dan put weatherpack electrical connections on every circuit in the car so we should be able to unplug the entire cab and pull it off without a lot of hassle. Not looking forward to that at all, but if our little tests tonight on the convertor don't pan out that is what will be happening. Stuff like steering box and column plus shifter will have to come out too, and the top will have to be removed so we can lift the body up with our gantry.

Thank you again to everyone for contributing such good ideas. I'll use all of those tonight when we drop the lower cover and mess with the convertor.

Don

replied before I read all of last reply

Just a little update. Scott from Jackson Performance called me and asked what he could do to help. He offered suggestions a lot in line with what we have had here..........either the pump is broken or the convertor is not engaging it. He also offered to send a new transmission even though this one was bought 4 years ago! I told him I wasn't asking for anything beyond their normal 2 year warranty, but he said they stand behind their stuff. I apologized to him for any rudeness on my part in posting negative comments.

Tonight I will do the things all of you, and Scott, suggested and see what happens. If worst comes to worst we'll pull the body and get the trans out.

Don

why do you have to lift the body. why not pull the engine and trans out the front ?

Wow! That's great of him to offer that to you. I'm sure it will be remembered by all who reads this and we'll remember Jackson as a place to support!
Brian