need help installing a 390
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
need help installing a 390
all i have is chevy friends to help and i need to know the proper way to install a 390 do i bolt the torque converter to the flexplate first then slide it in or what i nee help linning up the engine
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,735
Likes: 0
From: TX
Do you mean flywheel instead of flextplate, I thought flexplates were only on manual trannies. Ive helped some chevy guys drop in their motors, one was automatic. Is the tranny in the truck still? In any case the tourqe conveter should be slid into the tranny before you drop in the motor. When you drop in the motor just line the shaft up and bolt the tranny to the motor, then the tourqe converter to the flywheel.
Correct me if I am wrong cause I have never dropped in an FE motor, just crappy ole chebbys.
Correct me if I am wrong cause I have never dropped in an FE motor, just crappy ole chebbys.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,237
Likes: 3
From: Belleville, Ontario
Put the T/C in the tranny, then bring the engine in & line up the bellhousing using the dowels in the back of the block. Get a couple of bellhousing bolts started but don't tighten them. Line up the T/C & flexplate bolt holes & install the T/C bolts. Finish the bellhousing bolts.
AL.
AL.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 358
Likes: 6
Put the TC in the tranny first. Then, VERY IMPORTANT, to make sure you have it in all the way put a straight edge accross the bell housing. Now measure from there to the converter mounting surface (the bottom of the stud). It should be 1 1/8". This way you know it is seated properly. Do like Dealford does to line it all up. Once the studs are lined up bolt down the bellhousing bolts. Now, before you tighten the converter bolts there should actually be 1/8" to 3/16" of play in the converter. I mean you should be able to slide it back and forth. You should also turn the engine, by hand, without the spark plugs in to see if there is any binding. I just put a new tranny and converter on my 390 from TCI and this is exaclty what the directions said.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
If you want an easier way, to do it, get 4 long small block ( Ford ) head bolts. remove the heads from each, then chamfer the ends. Screw these into the back of the block where the trans bolts go. Then after installing the torque converter into the trans, drop the engine in place ( maybe I should say LOWER it with the Chevy guys around 
) then line up the bellhousing holes to the studs, then the whole thing will ba able to pop smoothly into place. Never pull the engine onto the transmission with the bolts, there's a good chance you'll screw the front pump up if the torque converter's not properly installed. If the two don't go together by hand, somethings wrong. After joining the two together, remove the head bolt-turned-alignment studs and install the bell housing bolts.
) then line up the bellhousing holes to the studs, then the whole thing will ba able to pop smoothly into place. Never pull the engine onto the transmission with the bolts, there's a good chance you'll screw the front pump up if the torque converter's not properly installed. If the two don't go together by hand, somethings wrong. After joining the two together, remove the head bolt-turned-alignment studs and install the bell housing bolts.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Originally Posted by wezol5484
Do you mean flywheel instead of flextplate, I thought flexplates were only on manual trannies. Ive helped some chevy guys drop in their motors, one was automatic. Is the tranny in the truck still? In any case the tourqe conveter should be slid into the tranny before you drop in the motor. When you drop in the motor just line the shaft up and bolt the tranny to the motor, then the tourqe converter to the flywheel.
