Well I got my engine back in a few days ago. I kind of just wanted to see what pistons I have. Turns out they are the big dish kind unfortunately. But anyway I had the heads milled a bit and had the carb tuned. Got the engine back in and the transmission is barely operating. Seems like a vaccum problem. It will only work every now and again. Sometimes I rev it and it does nothing, and sometimes it will move. One time I tried driving it down the road and it wouldnt shift. I checked the vacuum line down to the modulator. I took it off and put my finger up to it and it had plenty of vacuum. I cant figure out what the problem is.

 

Have you checked the trans fluid?
If any leaked when you pulled the motor - - -
And if the converter didn't 'seat' in the pump - - -

 

Well, the converter thing makes sense. When I was tightening the converter to flexplate bolts I noticed the converter did draw forward with it a little bit. I dont know why it would do that though.

 

I've seen where some installed the flexplate backwards - there is some concave/convex situation there.
I usually look for the marks of the boltheads to get it right!

 

x2

 

x3

Sounds like low fluid to me.

- Eric

 

Im still fighting this problem. I took all the bolts off and pulled the converter back. When the converter is pulled all of the way back in, there is about a 1/4 inch gap between the converter tabs and the flexplate. Im guessing that this is causing my problem? Should I shim the gab a little bit? I dont understand why it is doing it now, there were no washers shimming it before? And no, the flexplate isnt backwards, I never took it off. Are there any other things that could be causing this?

 

Are you sure the converter is seated in the pump??
Are you having to move it up to align the 3 bolt holes?
Try to turn the converter while unbolted, and see if there's any firm resistance - if not, keep going until you feel it engage the prongs on the pump. [it'll move back another 1/2 inch or so]
You may have to side the trans back, as far as the driveshaft will allow, to insure engagement.
I just hope this is your problem, and the pump isn't going away!!

 

Well, I took the three bolts off and pushed it back as far as it would go, it seemed seated then. A little bit of resistance. And yes, I have to move the converter forward a lot to get the bolts to tighten down fully. I think when that when I do that it makes the converter disengage. I think Im just going to try and shim it with two washers in between the flexplate and converter so it doesnt have to come up so far. Hopefully I havent done any serious damage.

 

Is your converter and flexplate stock. I had problems with aftermarket converter mounts hitting the flexplate weight. Had to grind a little off the converter mounts. Sometimes you cant see it if the weight is up top. What you describe just reminded of that.

 

You still haven't said that you check the fluid level and that it was full when in park and warm?
Gene

 

Yes fluid level is good.

 

It is normal for the converter to slide forward about 1/4" when attaching to the flexplate. Not the problem, but it will be if you take all that clearance away with shims.

 

Well, what else could be wrong? I have never had any problems with the transmission before.

 

Have you tried all the gears, forward and backward, maybe the linkage is hooked up wrong. See if you can find a pattern to the failure. If it worked fine prior to removing the engine and trans it should work now if nothing was changed.