Bellhousing alignment pins wont engage into engine

[1992fordgreen]

I have the tranny up and underneath the Explorer right now, but the trans alignment pins aren't engaging into the engine. The torque converter shaft enters the flywheel, but doesn't go any farther than the alignment pins. I had somebody helping me and we cannot get it. It's on a tranny jack as we put it in. Any ideas on how to engage the tranny directly into the crankshaft? or any tips or tricks? We've moved it around for hours.

Thanks SE. Really appreciate it in advance.

 

[drdoom]

Verify that you have the torque converter all the way into the pump. With a straightedge across the bell housing, measure back to the torque converter pilot...should be roughly one half inch clearance.

 

[Maniak]

It is "possible" that you have crud on the pins but don't force things.

I'd pull the converter out of the trans and attempt to install the trans without it. If the trans goes right over the pins you know it was your converter. If you still can't get the trans to sit flush then you know you need to clean the pins and the holes for the pins.

~Mark

 

[B2-Bomber]

to be clear, S.O.P. for auto transmissions is that the torque converter needs to be un-bolted from the flex-plate, and fully splined into the transmission before the transmission can be mated to the block, failure to do so will cause pump/converter damage, and a nightmare of time getting the trans mated to the block

*EDIT I read this again, you said the "converter shaft" was entering the flex plate? so I guess you mean that you do have the converter already un-bolted from the flex plate, and that by "shaft" you are talking about the round machined nub on the back of the converter?

 

[1992fordgreen]

Verify that you have the torque converter all the way into the pump. With a straightedge across the bell housing, measure back to the torque converter pilot...should be roughly one half inch clearance.

Torque converter is all the way into the pump no doubt. Thanks for the tip.

 

[1992fordgreen]

It is "possible" that you have crud on the pins but don't force things.

I'd pull the converter out of the trans and attempt to install the trans without it. If the trans goes right over the pins you know it was your converter. If you still can't get the trans to sit flush then you know you need to clean the pins and the holes for the pins.

~Mark

I might try this. It's just a headache because we had a circus of the time getting the trans over the exhasut pipe and IDK if I wanna go through that again.

THanks for the tip.

 

[1992fordgreen]

to be clear, S.O.P. for auto transmissions is that the torque converter needs to be un-bolted from the flex-plate, and fully splined into the transmission before the transmission can be mated to the block, failure to do so will cause pump/converter damage, and a nightmare of time getting the trans mated to the block

*EDIT I read this again, you said the "converter shaft" was entering the flex plate? so I guess you mean that you do have the converter already un-bolted from the flex plate, and that by "shaft" you are talking about the round machined nub on the back of the converter?

I'm not taking the trans out im putting it in. THe torque converter shaft is going into the flexplate. Your above statement is correct.

THnajks all still open to sugestions. Sorry fopr the bad typinmg losing light out there..lol

 

[B2-Bomber]

I'm not taking the trans out im putting it in.

what I said was about putting it in I was just making sure that you weren't doing what so many people try to do, which is try to have the converter bolted to the flex plate first, and then try to spline the transmission input shaft into the converter.

which after reading again, it sounded like you were not doing

 

[1992fordgreen]

what I said was about putting it in I was just making sure that you weren't doing what so many people try to do, which is try to have the converter bolted to the flex plate first, and then try to spline the transmission input shaft into the converter.

which after reading again, it sounded like you were not doing

OK< gotcha. No, I had the torque converter in the tranny.
So, finally all of this work payed off. The tranny is engaged.
When I was putting the converter shaft into the crankshaft, I tested the torque converter by turning it. It made a grinding noise for the first two turns but then the gears caught and the noise dissipated. It took pushing the tranny to the left while one guy had a pry bar holding it in the side and the alignment pins finally caught. Put a couple bolts in for the night so the trans is secure.