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[GMCnet] Disappointing Day [message #141296] Sat, 27 August 2011 22:54 Go to previous message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma:
Senior Member
As Y'All may remember, I developed a transmission fluid leak on the way back
from Alabama in July. It put me beside the road very briefly -- just long
enough to add 2 qts ATF for the final 50 miles to home. Pressure washing
followed by a short road test showed all the leakage was coming from the
bell housing area. The problem just about had to be either the front pump
seal or the torque converter.

Last week, Stick Miller and I pulled the transmission, with a little
difficulty -- the left side alignment pin on the engine was really stuck in
the bell housing. And, we were shy of rear clearance, so had to loosen the
front motor mount and pull the engine forward 1/2" or so with a come-a-long.
That required disconnecting one of the mufflers -- which needed realignment
anyway. The pump seal looked good, but I was suspicious of the torque
converter. When I rapped on the input hub, it didn't sound quite right (I
had a BAD leak around the hub of one at Sheridan, WY in 2000). And one of
the 3 mounting lugs also sounded and looked a little suspicious. So I took
the TC to a local re-builder, a reliable outfit in business since '63.
They agreed with my suspicions about the mounting lug, but were not willing
to put my used TC into their pristine test tank. They built me a heavy duty
converter with brazed fins, flanged hub, etc. and priced it very reasonably.
They had some excess inventory of TH-425 parts, so I called Manny; I think
they made a deal to sell them to him. They essentially gave me a full set
of TH-425 gaskets.

With the transmission out, I decided to pull the engine oil pan and see how
my 5000 mile rebuild is looking inside. Both my NASCAR engine builder
friend and I looked it over real well and saw only good things. I glued the
pan back on last evening.

Today, my son and grandson came to help me re-install the transmission. It
took us about 2-1/2 hours to get it back in and were bolting the bell
housing on the engine when we had difficulty pulling them together. I
figured it was that tight alignment pin again, so we honked down on the
bolts pretty good, by hand. Eventually, I realized something more was wrong
and we had to pull the transmission back out.

What I discovered was that the recess in the crankshaft, into which the hub
on the TC seats, is 1.695" ID. The diameter of the hub on the TC measures
1.701". Hmmmm... Don't think I'll ever be able to press that in place. So
much for reasonable pricing. I'll take it back to the rebuilder on Monday.
In the meantime, I'm dead in the water with preparations for Goshen &
Milan. Sure hope I didn't damage the 425's pump or anything while trying to
seat that hub! :-(

At least my back held up fairly well; maybe I'll survive getting the coach
ready for the trip north.

Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
 
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