I mated up my 82 351w and C6 transmission for my truck build and now I cannot turn the engine by hand.

When I mounted the Torque Converter, the engine turned just fine and I was able to tighten all TC bolts to appropriate specs.

Could I have forced the transmission on and binded it up somehow?

Stupid question, but I don't have a shift linkage on the tranny yet. How to I make sure that its in neutral? Or does that even matter?

 

When the transmission was installed was the torque converter free to turn by hand before you bolted the converter up to the flexplate?


I ask because that's the only thing that could lock the engine or transmission up is if the torque converter is not fully seated on the input shaft of the transmission and it is installed and it is forced into a bind.


Some people even install the coverter to the flexplate first but its hard to get it right. I personally spin the converter while sliding it back to get it to fully seat all the way down on the input shaft then install the transmission this will give you a 2" gap or so between the flexplate and the converter. I then like to spin the converter to ensure everything is free then slide it out and line it up with the flexplate and bolt it up.

 

Sounds like that may be what happened. I installed the torque converter onto the flex plate before mounting the tranny.

Any chance I didn't ruin something with this error?

 

If everything was tighetened down its very possible damage to the thrust bearing in the engine, the stator in the converter, or the input shaft could be damaged.


The process I described is as follows.


1) with transmission sitting on stand or table fill torque converter with 1 qt of transmission fluid. Take converter and slide it on the input shaft of the converter.


2) while pushing back on the converter towards the rear of the transmission spin te converter back and forth to engage the splines to get the converter to slide all the way on the input shaft. The converter would basically be touching the front pump housing of the transmission when it is fully seated. When you look at the bell housing you will see the mounting point of the converter is quite a ways away from the bellhousing mounting pad


3) This will allow you to install the transmission to the engine without having the converter touching the flexplate during installation. Torque the transmission bell housing bolts to specifications.


4) slide torque converter forward to flexplate spinning to line up the first mounting point and bolt the converter down. Spin the engine over by hand to next converter mount and repeat the process till the converter is fully mounted.




The video above is for a AOD but the same process is used on any transmission GM, Ford, Mopar when installing a converter on the transmission

 

Thanks for the responses and help.

When I pull this back apart, how can I tell if I messed something up?

 

Do not put the torque converter on the flexplate first. Put it on the tranny and then slide it together.

I would pull the front of the tranny down a little bit and see if anything is cracked or bent. If you forced the engine together so there was no gap in the bellhousing, there is going to be damage to the tranny pump area.

 

I am with Dave. This damages the pump when not done correctly. It could have even broke the bell housing. You got lucky if it didnt .

 

So will I be able to see the damage? Am I going to have to just find a new transmission?

The transmission went on fairly easily, but I obviously messed the process up.

 

I got it all taken apart.

The transmission and torque converter all look like they're in great shape. I can't see any damage at all.

Is there a good chance that there's damage I can't see?

I am trying to get the torque converter to seat now, but I can't seem to get it all the way on. I wonder if I bent the input shaft?

 

You can fix the pump if it is damaged.

 

This isn't seated all the way is it?

 

Torque converter is spinning pretty freely. I just don't know if it's seated all the way

 

Search the web, somewhere I saw a measurement from the face of the tranny bell to the torque converter to let you know if it was back all the way. I do know when it's properly seated, when you get the tranny and engine together, you have to pull the torque converter forward out of the tranny a little bit to get the nuts started on the converter.

 

That doesnt look to be back far enough. Keep rotating and trying to het it seated.

 

Thanks for all the help.

I was finally able to get it seated. took a lot of turning and rotating. Finally went in all the way.

I installed the transmission back onto the engine. The tc was spinning freely and the transmission slid right into place.