Clutch / Torque Converter: torque converter alignment

[bhapner]

REINSTALLING MY CONVERTER 63 GT Hawk... Looking at my shop manual it calls for a torque converter aligning tool, which I don't have. Says to install the tool and then rotate the converter two turns. Any substitutes that might be available? Can It be done with a dial indicator? Any other techniques from you experts out there?

hawk dummy bhapner

[RadioRoy]

I put the bolts on finger tight or snug, then rotate the engine with the fan blade a couple of revolutions, then tighten the bolts.

[bhapner]

simple as that???

[StudeRich]

Yes it is, the Tool merely just moves the converter a milometer or 2 upward to keep the converter's weight from lowering it, thereby "Centering" it in the Converter Housing front Pump hole, this can be done with the Converter itself instead.

You want the Converter to Flexplate Screws just snug enough so that between the 6 of them, they will support the weight, but loose enough so that turning the engine can center them.

[jackb]

and if you could do so..... it would be better (without the special tool) to perform this task with the unit vertical, not horizontal......GL

[jclary]

Showing my ignorance (so what's new), but is this a separate process from "bellhousing" dial-in? Back in the 1980's, I did a complete rebuild of the 259 V8 in my Lark. Since the Bellhousing was original to the engine, the dial-in was not a big issue, but I still checked it. However, I don't recall specifically the torque converter process other than the fact that I checked, torqued, re-torqued everything.

It is possible that I just got lucky, or my memory is fading, but I used the car extensively, mostly trouble free, for several years and over 40,000 miles before retiring it to concentrate on other projects. So...to clarify, is "torque converter alignment" and "bellhousing dial-in" two separate functions?

[RadioRoy]

Showing my ignorance (so what's new), but is this a separate process from "bellhousing" dial-in? Back in the 1980's, I did a complete rebuild of the 259 V8 in my Lark. Since the Bellhousing was original to the engine, the dial-in was not a big issue, but I still checked it. However, I don't recall specifically the torque converter process other than the fact that I checked, torqued, re-torqued everything.

It is possible that I just got lucky, or my memory is fading, but I used the car extensively, mostly trouble free, for several years and over 40,000 miles before retiring it to concentrate on other projects. So...to clarify, is "torque converter alignment" and "bellhousing dial-in" two separate functions?

Yes. Two separate alignments.

[Tom Bredehoft]

Absent the "torque converter alignment tool" when I put my '55 together, I studied the nose of the tranny, noticed a sleeve over the pilot that had parts of it cut away. Close examination of the hole it goes into shows that there is a matching configuration inside the torque converter. I just lined them up visually and it went together with no problems.

[dynolou2]

Most of the procedure in the book has to do with removing the transmission and not the bell housing or converter to do a repair. When I remove or replace trans assembly I do it as a complete unit. Of course if its an Avanti or a convertible you will have to nosedive it out securing the converter first. On install after the bellhousing bolts are snug rotate the converter a couple of turns install the converter bolts snug, then torque. Lou Cote

[SScopelli]

REINSTALLING MY CONVERTER 63 GT Hawk... Looking at my shop manual it calls for a torque converter aligning tool, which I don't have. Says to install the tool and then rotate the converter two turns. Any substitutes that might be available? Can It be done with a dial indicator? Any other techniques from you experts out there?

hawk dummy bhapner

The dial indicator method.. This centers the bell housing to the crank, assuming the torque convert will be centered to it.



The subsequent tool I use as well..

I machined a bushing replacement for the front pump to fit with closer tolerance on the torque converter. Rotate and tighter, better to be don as describer with the engine Vertical rather than Horizontal. I've welded a handle on it since then.



NOTE: There are guide pins on the block and may hold the bell housing in place where "centering" will not be effective. I'd dial first and see how "bad it really is.

If it is really wacked out, then you will need to remove the pins, center the bell housing and re-drill the guide pin holes. Normally will require a thicker guide pin than before.