Torque Converter Question.

[kartman]

Can someone piont me the right direction?

I have been building a Vega Wagon for 3 years now,, Yeah, I am very slow!
Every time I visit Bradleys Auto Parts, Mike asks, when am I going to finish.
Well, I'm getting near the END of the build. My latest problem is with the Torque Converter. Here is the setup: SBC 406, with Powerglide, PG is a built racing trans: with a Ultra bell. Torque converter is a 8" 5000 stall. The tranny has 17 spline/ 27. Torque converter slides in place on the tranny just fine.
The Mounting Pads on the converter line up with the flex plate. However, when I bolt the tranny to the Motor the torque converter seems to be over a inch too short. The front knob of the converter is barely reaching the flex plate center Hole. Does anyone know what the demension on the torque converter should be?

Any help would be appreciatied
Tony

[ferndaleflyer]

If that is one of those deals where you bolt the Ultra Bell (JW?) to the front pump a lot of things can change. Everything I use is from ATI but I have one trans with a JW Ultra Bell. ATI took my trans and machined the pump surface so that it was sqare (aligned) to the motor and the inside of the bell had to be machined so the flexplate didn't touch. I know most don't have this relationship with a company as big as ATI but another thing they do is make the snout on the converter longer along with thicker mounting tabs. If it is an ATI converter---a phone call will get you some info. Sounds like something isn't right.

[kartman]

If that is one of those deals where you bolt the Ultra Bell (JW?) to the front pump a lot of things can change. Everything I use is from ATI but I have one trans with a JW Ultra Bell. ATI took my trans and machined the pump surface so that it was sqare (aligned) to the motor and the inside of the bell had to be machined so the flexplate didn't touch. I know most don't have this relationship with a company as big as ATI but another thing they do is make the snout on the converter longer along with thicker mounting tabs. If it is an ATI converter---a phone call will get you some info. Sounds like something isn't right.


Thanks for the tip Flyer. The bell clears the flex plate, but maybe there's a length problem. If the snout was longer and the pads a inch thicker. But thats seems like alot.

Thanks,
Tony

[ferndaleflyer]

An inch is a LOT!!!!! But it has got to go in the trans and without a true center snout it will vibrate to pieces if you just shim it out.

[BHicks9411]

Mine has 3/8" spacers now. If you don't space it out of the pump some it will bust the pump. Inch or more sounds like to much. I'm no tranny man though.

[ferndaleflyer]

I said that wrong up above. I meant the snout of the converter needs to be centered and in the crank shaft. Come by my trailer Sat and I will give you an ATI book.----it has a lot of info in it. I don't have the summer book yet but the fall-winter one is about the same.