I tried swapping the blown 4.9L in my 1994 E250 (c6 tranny) this weekend with a motor from a 1991 F150 (standard tranny). I got the motor in, but when I torque the bellhousing bolts down something drags, if i keep them slightly loose the engine spints fine....I can't figure it out. Any ideas?


more detailed info:

I swapped the components off of the old engine with the new engine right next to it. I removed the tranny input shaft support bearing from the inside of the crank end so the torque converter would bolt up fine, and then just swapped parts (flywheel T-C). The torque converter bolts seemed to be long like they might interfere with the install (they stuck out far). After initial install I noticed that the T-C bolts were too long (how?) and contacting that thin metal plate that goes between the engine and tranny. I was in a hurry so I just trimmed them down so they wouldn't interfere. That seemed to solve one problem, but when I screw the bellhousing bolts in the engine still binds. It definatley seems like something is contacting in the torque coverter - flywheel area, but everything was installed directly the same...this is killing me.

The engine went in fine, there were no snags and the tranny lined up with the engine quite easily. We didn't hammer or bang on anything putting the engine in. That metal plate got slightly bent over the motor mount but we straightened it.

any ideas appreciated

 

What flywheel did you use? You'll need to use the one from the motor that had the auto trans. Also make sure you removed the clutch.

 

changed the automatic flywheel from the van along with the Torque Converter and other items onto the donor engine.

 

Sounds like the torque converter isn't seated correctly in the pump. Or, the crankshaft pilot bearing hole isn't accepting the nose of the torque converter. Did you remove the pilot bearing in the end of the crankshaft? Did you test fit the torque converter into the crankshaft to ensure it fit?

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

I tend to agree with you club, it definately seems like the T-C is binding. I removed the pilot bearing before install and bolted the T-C up to the engine before putting it in, and it seemed to fit fine. The bolts on the T-C are through the flywheel pretty far, so that proves that the T-C is bolted up well to the engine (I think???).

I think I may have made a mistake though in tightening the T-C down before install. When I go to work on the van later this week the first think i'm going to do is loosen the T-C bolts on the flywheel and see if it helps line it up a little different.

 

B&C, you need to install the torque converter in the transmission BEFORE mateing the transmission to the engine. Once the trans is bolted to the engine you can put the flywheel bolts in. If you bolt the flywheel to the engine first there is no way to ensure the torque converter hub is properly seated in the transmission's pump.

I hope you didn't torque the bellhousing bolts. If you did, its very likely you damaged the pump.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

Yep, I torqued them...I'll give you an update when I work on the van later this week. I hope everything is ok, that is an expensive lesson to learn!!!!

 

Good luck. I hope its OK. The torque converter hub fits into the pump gears and if its not seated and your torque the bellhousing bolts, its can ruin the pump gears, even break them in two.

You certainly aren't the first to do it and probably not the last.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

I am now master of the automatic transmission install!!!!

My problem was I drove standards my whole life, this was the first Auto I put in.

I fixed the problem by dropping the tranny, installing the TC correctly, and mating it back together. No permanent damage seemed to be done, as everything looked straight in the tranny, and spins fine. A road test next week will tell the true tale.

To recap:

The C-6 transmission isn't open at the bottom, so once you install the Torque Converter (TC) and mate the engine, you can't move the TC, or barely even grab it. Because of this, I thought mounting the T-C to the engine would be a good move, and I could spin the engine to line up the TC... WRONG....

The TC on the tranny side has two flat machined spots at the end of the output shaft (towards tranny side). You need to get these locked in the transmission first, as it is tricky to get them to line up.

The TC in the C6 has the bolts captive to the TC. Lining them up is tough because like I said above, you can't spin the TC once you get the engine close. This is where most internet tutorials aren't helpful, as they deal with the type that has an open bottom tranny so you can spin the TC.

To get everything to fit, you have to get the engine close and thread in a few of the bellhousing bolts. Be carefull to get enough thread, as you gotta get under the engine!

-Leave about 1/2 " space between the bellhousing and the engine all around. Now get under the van and have an assistant spin the engine until the TC bolts line up with the holes in the flex plate (flywheel).
-Have your assistant tighten up the bellhousing bolts while you make final corrections to the flexplate to make sure the bolts go through properly. A
-Have your assistant spin the engine 1/4 turn at a time to attach the 4 nuts (use locktite).

 

All the Ford automatics are this way you have to line up the stud bolt in the tc with the holes in the flywheel plus get the to drain plug lined up in its hole. I hope you didn't bust the front pump with the first attempt to install I have seen that done way to many times. I have put front seals in Fmx trannies by just pulling the trans loose from the bell housing but you have to be careful and not move anything.