727 Auto

[Bigal75]

I'm swapping out my torque converter and wanted a little advice from you guys...whats the easiest way to do this? Take the drive shaft off, unbolt the trans and slide it back? Is that even possible? There must be some tricks to this?

Any tips would be appreciated!

 

[69 GTX]

Yes you can do that. Make sure to support the engine in the rear when you remove it. Although if you have the space I'd pull everything out. Headers tend to make things more difficult. I used to pull one of the tranny lines off the bottom of the radiator put it in a bucket then start the car and put it in neutral to drain the ATF.

 

[miller]

Converter/trans...

There's ONLY one right way to do it. Before you separate the trans, from the motor, get the motor where you can turn it over by hand. Plugs, gear in neutral.

Then pull the inspection plate, bottom front of the trans, to get to the four bolts, that hold the converter to the flexplate. Those need to be pulled first. When you separate the trans, from the motor...converter stays with the trans, using a small clamp, or the like.

Assembly is the same, but opposite.

 

[69 GTX]

Oh, and mark the last bolt on the convertor & flex plate for installation.

 

[Bigal75]

Thanks fellas. Is it easier to pull the transmission out than to slide it back?

 

[oldbee]

Just put trans out and on the ground. Trying to put a t.c. in with trans just slid back will put many,many cuss words out in the atmosphere!

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Depends if your on yer back or on a lift.

 

[Bigal75]

On my back unfortunately.

 

[66Satellite47]

Done this countless times, loosen the tork converter bolts, take the trans cooler lines off (if you don't have flexible lines), pull the driveshaft, use a 2x4 between the steering link & the oil pan, (unbolt the starter, may not really be required, disconnect the battery power), maybe disconnect the shifter linkage, remove the trans X member, lower the trans with a floor jack under the trans, slide the converter out.

 

[oldbee]

"Hemi" too much rotating,wobbling&pushing for me except on a bench or on the ground!

 

[Bigal75]

Ok perfect. I appreciate all the responses.

 

[AR67GTX]

Thanks fellas. Is it easier to pull the transmission out than to slide it back?

From removing the 727 in my GTX not to long ago - it may depend on your exhaust system. I had TTI exhaust with H - pipe and the H-pipe was about 2 inches too far forward to simply unbolt the converter, move the transmission back and drop it straight down. I had to tilt my jack platform to lower the input shaft past the flexplate, etc while inching the transmission forward until the tail would clear.

Also, by pulling the transmission mount there may be enough room to slide the transmission back to allow replacing the converter without pulling the transmission cross member. That thing is also a pain to pull and replace because it also wouldn't clear the exhaust. I had to unbolt my exhaust from the manifolds and drop them down to get the crossmember out of the way.

Good luck

 

[oldbee]

And Bigal the new conv. shud be about 1/2" from the frt edge of bellhousing when going together or it's not all the way in to the pump&input shaft.

 

[66Satellite47]

FYI, I changed a tork converter in the drag strip pits in 45 minutes in my '65 Coronet, but that car was set up for easy trans maintenance. My tube chassis Arrow was easier.

 

[Bigal75]

Hopefully I can have this unit repaired. I had a couple of kick backs that damaged the ring gear. Not pretty.

 

[Bigal75]

There's no real exhaust to deal with. Two borlas clamped onto the collectors.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

I believe with your limited exhaust you might be able to just pull the trans back...you'll be able to see once you start. I STRONGLY recommend that if you're doing it without a lift you get a transmission jack stand (AutoZone or others) that fits onto your floor jack. I used to try to balance transmission on my normal floor jack until I dropped one off the jack (and onto my hand) one day.

Mine is something like this one, except I only have straps & not chains.... $40-$50

 

[Bigal75]

^ yes, I'm going to build something out of wood.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

^ yes, I'm going to build something out of wood.

That will work too! Just at least sort of tie it down. A little wiggle room is good, but falling of the jack is bad...you get my drift.

It's a "medium difficult" job but very do-able. I've swapped out maybe 6-8 transmissions...not that tough. All of what these guys are saying is dead-on correct. Oh yeah, and go ahead and get a new ring gear while you're at it, especially if you think the one you have has been chewed on a little by the starter. Set it in place over the converter, heat it with a torch, couple love taps & it will drop right on.... at least that's how I've been taught.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Oh, and mark the last bolt on the convertor & flex plate for installation.

When installing a new converter that step is a waste of time.