Torque Converter Installation Question

[kevinwscott]

Hi

I am new to this forum and any help I could get would be appreciated. I am in the process of swapping out the automatic Tranny in my son's 90 Camry. I am replacing it with one from a salvage yard. I have pulled the torque converter out of the replacement tranny (expect to finish dropping the old one in a couple of days) so we could clean it out some. How do you know for sure that you have it back in the transmission correctly. The book says

measure from the installed surface to the front surface of the transaxle housing and the distance should be .51" or more.

The TQ seems to be going back in with no problem.
However, I am not getting that 1/2" gap. Any suggestions??

Newbie backyard mechnic

[Doctor J]

I hope my suggestions will be helpful:
The 13 mm inspection distance the manual is referring is the distance between the plane of the converter mounting pads and the front end surface of bell housing (where the holes for motor to transaxle are located).
If tranny came out from the wrecking yard with the Toque Converter in it is good idea to mark the converter in relation to the transaxle For the best results to assure the proper converter alignment:

• Make sure that both dowel pins are present for proper transaxle to engine alignment
• Obtain flexible neck, magnet mount dial indicator.
• Check the flex plate runout , must not be more then .2 mm
• Temporary bolt the torque converter to the flexplate.
• Using the same indicator, measure runout on the converter hub (the part that goes into the transaxle)- it must be no more then .2 mm
• If runout is more, reposition the converter to get minimum possible run out; mark converter in relation to the flexplate;
• Unbolt the converter from flexplate and insert it into transmission; make sure it fully engaged with the front pump drive (if not, the inspection distance will be 8 mm not 13 mm)
• During reassembly align the flex plate-to-torque converter marks.

This suppose to assure vibration free operation.

May I know what was wrong with original tranny?

[toyomoho]

Ins't that 1/2 inch gap with the torque converter clutch installed on the converter.

[Doctor J]

No it is actually the room for flexplate

[kevinwscott]

To All
I appreciate all of the input. It has been helpful. The thing to keep in mind, I have nerver done this before and in some cases I do not know what the right thing looks like. As a result, I have to cross all Tees and dot all EYEs and assume nothing. I have since been able to play with the torque converter and it is now going in with a bit more than a 1/2 inch clearance between the end of the bell housing the the mounting nuts on the face of the torque converter. My origional concerns were valid, I was not getting it in all of the way.

I do not know the details of what was wrong with the old transmission. I had my son take the car to AAMACO and they told him either an overhaul or a replacement. He came home with a written quote. My choices with them were $1,500.00 or $1,800.00. I did not like either option so I decided to tackle it myself. My attitude is if I do it myself I will:

- Save a lot of money (even after buying tools, books, etc)
- Learn A lot (I like learning)
- Not in a rush for the car (my son is walking and he needs the exercise)

It will be interesting to see how it turns out since the only car work I have done in the past is change a couple of starters, alternators and one wheel bearing assembly.

If it works well maybe I will have a new career when I retire in about 6 years

Thank you

[fredk]

ALWAYS when you get the bell bolts in put your finger through a hole in the flexplate and see if you can turn the converter

[kevinwscott]

I have another torque converter question.
Several of the books say to put ATF in the torque converter before you put it back in the transmission (I guess you are priming the pump). How much fluid do you put in? I have put some in it and it goes up the stem and then very slowly goes down into the rest of the converter.

[Doctor J]

One qt.