Help diagnosing a transmission noise

[phoenixv8]

Trying to get to the bottom of a transmission problem that is holding up the project as it nears completion. The video above is a pretty old one but is the best one showing the issue.

I have tried to make sure that the gearbox is full. Dexron III, 11 quarts in total as I have a TCI deep pan as well as a Mocal 7 row cooler and AN6 lines to the front of the car and back and installed a fresh Hughes 2500 stall converter. The last time I fired the car up, it puked a quart out of the bellhousing area (I had the dust shield in place at the time but there's a good chance it was over full and came out of the oil pump seal) I've made sure the torque converter bolts are tight and they don't appear to be impacting on anything as there are no witness marks on the ARP bolts. The torque converter appears to be seated all the way back into the bellhousing but admittedly, I haven't gotten a mirror or camera behind the converter to make sure it's mated to the snub.

Engine turns freely (though can be hard work by hand as its 10.5:1 CR) and I have even taken the car on a test drive as it was a bout a year after this video was shot that I thrashed to get the car ready or a show and on start up after sitting for so long, it didn't make a noise, but then came back pretty quickly on my 1 mile test drive.

I was thinking it could be flex plate impacting on the starter and there is indeed wear on the ring gear teeth that "could" be consistent with this theory.

I dropped the pan and have found a little clutch material, but as it was a fresh rebuild, nothing that I am alarmed about.
I've adjusted low band to 72 in./lb. and backed out 2 full turns before locking off.

I'm curious if there is anybody who has had the same issue in the past and what the resolution was? I don't think it's anything disastrous but would love to get input before I start tearing down any further than removing the oil pan which I did last week to investigate

As always, I appreciate your advice

Chris

 

[Don Frelier]

I think it would be a good idea to pull the starter, bench test it and watch how the bendix extends/retracts.
Make sure the grooves are clean and put a little light oil in there.
But if you have headers that can really be a chore.
You could try shimming it out with washers.

 

[phoenixv8]

At this point, I've had the headers on and off so much that I'm getting pretty good at doing it relatively quickly. The borgeson box and mini starter make it a lot easier too

 

[dfrazz]

Bolts hitting the trans dust cover?

 

[RemCharger]

There are 2 different dust shields as well depending on bolt circle size of the converter

 

[jeepthrills01]

Sounds like converter bolts...or yeah..hanging starter...or mechanical fan hitting a shroud/blade loose from clutch.

 

[Greg Ducato]

It sure sounds like a converter bolt or balance weight interference with a dust shield, that or loose converter bolts. I have seen instances where too long of a converter bolt would bottom out and the bolts would rattle against the flex plate even though they were "tight"