Okay guys, I need some serious help here! Yesterday I put a new 302 longblock in my '91 Bronco, and couldn't get the crank to turn over manually at all once I bolted it to the tranny no matter how hard I pulled at it, trying to start it just gets a big click sound and then nothing. At first I thought there might've been too much compression, but pulling the spark plugs didn't help at all. Then I thought it might be binding where it connects to the torque converter in the back, and sure enough when I loosened up the tranny bolts it could turn fine, didn't try to start it though.

So, today I set out thinking something was binding back there, probably the torque converter. I figured either two things were wrong: 1. The torque converter bolt doesn't fit into the back of the crank, and i'd have get a new one (This would've made sense too, since I had a helluva time getting the engine bolted up) or 2. The torque converter might be sticking out too far, and that's causing it to bind. Anyways, I hoisted the engine out, then jumped into the engined compartment and started messing with torque converter, turning it in every possible kind of combination. No dice, I couldn't get it pushed any farther back than it already was. So I took it off and made sure the bolt wasn't too big; It fit into the back of the crank perfectly.

Pereplexed, I thought maybe I just didn't put it in right the first time and tried again, making sure to double check everything I was doing. Yet, with only two tranny bolts tightened down, I find that I just can't turn that damn crank.

I'm really at my wits' end here with this Bronco guys. Heck, I even primed the engine with oil before I put it in. Any help you could offer would really be appreciated.

 

if you have an e4od you MUST make sure the converter is absolutely installed into the front pump correctly. it should be 1////4 to 1/2 inch back from the front of the bell housing. if not you will bind the engine and wont be able to turn the engine.

 

Did the new engine have a pilot bearing in the crank? If so, the auto trans and torque converter will not mate correctly. Is your bellhousing completely tight against the block?
Pam

 

Yeah, I already learned my lesson with pilot bearing from another engine adventure a few months ago, made sure there wasn't one in it before I put it in. Bell Housing is pretty tight, and i'll check the measurements tomorrow when I have a chance. As it is i'm too exhausted to mess with it any more today.

 

It is a real lesson trying to mate an auto tranny to a pilot bearing. The reason for the complete mate between the bellhousing and the block is it would mean the trans shaft is somehow hung up on the crank or off at an angle.
My sons and I understand complete exhaustion and frustration with engines.
Pam

 

Do those measurements include the center bolt on the torque converter? Because that is sticking out from the bell housing, but the rest of it is inside.

 

yes the center stub needs to be below the edge of the bellhousing also.im almost sure that the converter is not seated correctly into the front pump.

 

Okay then, is there a proper method to use when applying a torque converter? As I said before, I tried pushing on it but couldn't seem to get it in any further than it was.

 

When we put the torque converter back on the trans, first line up the splines and slip it on then rotate until it slips in all the way back into the bellhousing. Once the block and bellhousing are completely mated then we will pull the torque converter up to the flexplate to put in the bolts.
If this is your problem you might get enough clearance by splitting the block and bellhousing enough to rotate the torque converter and push it back into the trans. Usually we run into this problem with the cherry picker still attached and pull the engine out enough to get in and fix the problem, then put the engine back into place.
Pam

 

what pams red said is 100 % correct sometimes it goes easy but other times you have to work at it a little. i usually have to work at it a little.

 

Well I thought I should drop by and give you all an update on how things have gone so far. Keeping the suggestions you all made in mind, I called up the shop i'd gotten the transmission from (Not even a year old yet, so it's still under warranty) and asked if they could give my any point of reference to work with in getting the torque converter on properly, helps me get a better idea of what to do in my head. Guy there told me to make sure the drain plug (Which is on the side of this thing, not on the front) if aligned with the hole in the bottom of bell housing, then lift up on the middle of the torque converter and push. Tried it when I got home, and sure enough it popped right in. I couldn't believe how simple it was. After that I dropped the engine back in and found that it mated with bell housing almost perfectly the second it was in place. In ten minutes I got done what must've taken me three hours of adjusting and finagling with the engine and tranny positions, completely blew me away. I can turn the crank easy with one hand now. From there it was just a matter of getting everything back on the engine, finished what I could with daylight left and plan to get rest on and the bronco started up as soon as I get home from work today.

All I can say to anyone else reading is to use this as lesson should you ever find yourself dropping a new engine in: If you ever have a lot of trouble hooking your engine up to your tranny, it's probably because something's wrong! Hoist that sucker back out and make sure you double check that everything's just how it needs to be. Don't waste a whole weekend like me on something that should only take half a day!

 

im glad that you have solved your problem. and also glad that we could help you out. please let us know if there is anything else we can ever help you with.and always remember that it is usually the simple things that fool us into thinking it is serious and always work safe so when you are done you can enjoy your labor.

 

Thanks for posting your solution. I just had the same problem yesterday but I'm putting the transmission in from under the truck with a small floor jack . I went through the same frustration, I could not get the torque converter to seat far enough. After the third attempt to try and mate it to the engine I called it a nite. I searched the forum this morning and found your post. I lined up the drains but still it would not seat. I had to tap it a couple of times with the butt end of my hammer handle and in she went. I had tried tapping it before but it obviously won't go unless the drain plugs are aligned.
I don't think I could of wrestled that thing into place one more time! Thanks Again.

 

I had the EXACT same problem. Took three tries but it was amazing when it finally went "in" and made that "pop." The first two times it seemed as if it was in as far as it would go but justb wasn't quite "right." Good job!!

Tom T