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Here is my problem, I am currently building a 302 to put into my truck. I temporarly mounted the 302 to the c4 so i could mock up the engine mounts (302 has no heads on it right now).
Anyway, when the engine is mounted to the transmission you can not turn it with your hands at all. I cant even get it to turn with a wrench to the crank, it almost feels like the engine is stuck. However, when you pull it off,the engine is not stuck.
On the C4, there are two splines that come out, the smaller one can turn freely, the bigger one can't. However, i know this transmission was good when i pulled it off the truck to begin with (it might not have a full amount of transmission fluid in it though).
The one thing i noticed is the torque converter might not be full of oil as well. Not that i cared, i was just mocking up the engine mounts, but my question is..
Why couldn't it turn? Is the torque converter bad?
I don't mess much with auto's but if memory serves me right the torque converter needs to be pushed back into the tranny and turned clockwise? to 'lock' it in position before you bolt it to the flexplate.
Hopefully someone will come along who is competent with auto trans.
The inner splined shaft passes thru a couple of pieces in the rear of the trans, and if the shaft has come out (there's nothing to stop it), some of those pieces can fall down enough that the shaft won't go back in all the way. Stand the trans on the rear end, and feed the inner shaft in twisting it as you go. You should feel it bottom out solidly with (as I recall) about an inch of the splines sticking out the front.
As noted above, you do have to make sure the T.C. dogs that drive the front pump are seated in the pump, and also that the two splined shafts are completely seated in the T.C. hubs. Twist it all as you push the T.C. squarely in.
The Torque converter is fine, i got it to sit correctly in the trans. I found out the flexplate that i pulled off an engine i had sitting was bent. The block i have is a 1987 302 FE truck block and I will have to geta 50 oz counterweight flexplate for it.
There is a dizzying array of flexplates for this combo; you'll need to have the tag off the trans and (as you already know) the counterweight needed. It isn't always possible to match an older C-4 to a post-'80 engine (when they went to the 50-oz flex). Check Pioneer Auto, http://www.pioneerautoinc.com/index.htm
They make most of the aftermarket flexplates and have an exhaustive list. You also need to know your starter ring gear tooth count, as I recall.
Theres also some screwy waterpump and belt setups. Somewhere Ford reversed the direction of the waterpump to run a serpentine belt.
I dont know what years that is.
All my 302 stuff is 69 and 70's
Mine came out of a 69 Torino I had and it has all the correct pulleys.
There is a dizzying array of flexplates for this combo; you'll need to have the tag off the trans and (as you already know) the counterweight needed. It isn't always possible to match an older C-4 to a post-'80 engine (when they went to the 50-oz flex). Check Pioneer Auto, http://www.pioneerautoinc.com/index.htm
They make most of the aftermarket flexplates and have an exhaustive list. You also need to know your starter ring gear tooth count, as I recall.
There were 57 and 64 tooth flexplates, 28 oz and 50 oz. The pre-80's flexplates were 57 tooth 28 oz. If you're using an older tranny with a newer engine you will need a 57 tooth 50 oz flexplate. Theres a guy on eBay that sells them out of California. He goes by the name The Mustang Depot and puts TMD in all of his titles. Not a bad price that's where I got mine. Hope this helps, John By the way, I'm running an 87 302 with a 73 C4