Rattle in tranny after i did something stupid

[janolsson]

Hi guys
I've posted this on the uk site but as we don't rarely play with auto boxes here not had any useful replies, so i'm hoping some clever people on your side of the pond can help.

UK 4.0 SOHC 1998 (5r55e?)
Basically when i put my motor back in i didn't have the torque converter (TC) seated properly back and i tried to pull the tranny and motor together with the bolts nono: i know now!). I realised that this wasn't the way to go so i pulled the motor out of the way again and seated the TC. it went back some with some turning but when it would go back no further, whilst turning aand applying pressure i could hear a sound like cogs rubing over each other. At the time i thought this a bit odd but reasoned that as it was only when applying pressure it would be ok as the TC will be drawn to the flywheel a fraction. Dropped the motor in and had no problem mating the 2.

Once it was all back together i fired her up and now gwt a loud rattling that sounds like its coming from the TC area of the tranny (def front end). Took a little drive around the block and it shifts fine both forward and reverve and goes into 4x4 Hi and low.

So the question is have i damaged the TC or is it likely i have done something more severe???

Sorry for the essay but i thought it best to give you as much info and background as possible.
Please help, i'm desperate to get her back on the road, it's been too long driving euro boxes.
Thank you in advance
Regards

 

[Jack Flash]

can't diagnose one that far away, but sounds like you may have broken the front pump gears. I've seen one when the guy managed to break the pump gears when bolting the thing together without properly seating the converter.

it is also possible to have damaged the flywheel in the process.

? was there any clearance between the converter and the flywheel or did you force the two together with the bellhousing bolts ?

,
,

J...just a retired teacher who grew up in a wrecking yard.

 

[janolsson]

can't diagnose one that far away, but sounds like you may have broken the front pump gears. I've seen one when the guy managed to break the pump gears when bolting the thing together without properly seating the converter.

it is also possible to have damaged the flywheel in the process.

? was there any clearance between the converter and the flywheel or did you force the two together with the bellhousing bolts ?

,
,

J...just a retired teacher who grew up in a wrecking yard.

initially when i tried to mate the 2 the TC bolts were thro the flexiplate and there was a gap of 1/4 inch at the top bellhousing bolt. i then pulled this closed with the bolt, pulled the next hole down on same side with bolt but got to 1/4 inch and really tight, i then went other side and gap bout 1/2 - 3/4 inch and couldn't get the bolt to reach the thread. at this point i thought this can't be right and pulled the motor and reseated the TC.

So are you saying that the tc might have pushed against the shaft and damaged the pump gears (where are they) or might it be more likely the force will damage the internals off the tc? As i mentioned before the box shifts fine.

thanks

 

[ranger7ltr]

Probably a dumb question...

Did you recheck the torque on the TC bolts? It is possible that they are loose; Tight enough to hold it in the flywheel but loose enough to allow it to move back and forth as the engine rotates it...

Also look at the flexplate;May sure that it is not bent and one of the balance weights is not hitting the engine plate or making contact...

It is possible that part of or one of the ears on the tc broke off and is making the noise you are hearing now...But the sound of moving gears as you turned the tc should have been just the normal sound of the front pump being rotated by the tc just slowly and without the sound dampening of the engine in front of it...

I ask about the bolts since I can remember tightening my tc bolts after an engine install but I didn't retorque them and they got loose over time after I fired up the engine... It made one hell of a racket but only after the engine had run for 15 mins or so...On a different vehicle I bought a 5 liter Mustang real cheap thanks to a bad rod bearing only to find the flexplate would move forward enough or was bent slightly to make contact with the engine plate... This one also took a little time to start making a sound but when it did the sound was just like a rod bearing...After bending the engine plate out about 1/4", the sound never came back and I drove my $100 car for the next 8 years without a single engine problem...

Let us know what you find...

 

[janolsson]

Thanks ranger7ltr

I hadn't considered a bent flexiplate. mmm
Just gotta find time in the next couple of weeks to drop the tranny and see what i find. Though now first point of call is the torque bolts and the flexiplate. If the torque converter is busted how could i tell when i take it out, when empty turn it and listen for bits rattling?
Thanks