anybody ever had a torque converter get stuck on the engine?

Christian9112

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I am guessing that the pilot snub is stuck inside the flexplate. I need some suggestions on getting it out. I have tried air shims between the flex plate and the converter. hammering it. Using the input shaft as a leverage. I cant seem to get the thing off. Im about to grind the converter in half and cut that pilot snub thing off. I have the r&d flexplate so im trying to save it. yes ive taken off the 4 bolts.
The thing is, the input splines inside the converter had broken off the turbine and its free wheeling. I think it might have expanded that snub inside. sidenote, dont use transfix. I think its the main reason it sheared off inside. it was very cold and the additive made the atf thick. once i hit 3rd gear, i no longer had power to the ground. the led brake lights probably didnt help the torque converter either. it would unlock and lock everytime the blinker was on.
 

Christian9112

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haha. the transmission rebuild already cost me 3k including the new torque converter. please send your thoughts and prayers
 
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david85

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haha. the transmission rebuild already cost me 3k including the new torque converter. please send your thoughts and prayers
3k rebuild and then this? Now I'm gonna start crying!

If I understand correctly, the transmission is removed but the converter is still attached, correct?

If so, the pump shaft should still be protruding out the back of the converter. You could try to find a steel pipe that fits snug around that, and then use leverage to walk it off. Could also add some wedges between the flex plate and the converter, but this might damage the flex plate.
 

Nero

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What David said. Have had to do that a time or two with bigger transmissions. Also a generous amount of your favorite penetrating oil
 

Christian9112

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The transmission is out yes. I'm upgrading all the parts to 4r100 specs with triple disc converter. I'll find a tight fit pipe. When I put the input shaft in there, it feels like it's not grabbing anything. The flex plate can bend like an 1/8 inch away from the converter.
 

Booyah45828

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I've had that issue before. It was on an engine that sat for 40 years though, and the converter wasn't going to be saved or reused. I was concerned and wanted to reuse the crank.

I first drilled a hole and let the fluid in the converter drain out for a day(there was still some in there). Then I used a cutting torch and took it apart chunk by chunk. A lot of smoke and fire, but I eventually got it down to the nub inside the crank, which I collapsed in on itself with a chisel and air hammer, then it too came out. The nub was rusted to the crank, which is why it was stuck, but it eventually came apart with no damage to the crank or even the flexplate IIRC.

You can likely use an abrasive cutting disc on the case weld, then you can pull the back half off and remove all the guts. Which will allow you to work on cutting and removing the front case half.

But if you can't get it to move with a prybar between the converter and flywheel, I don't know any other way to get it apart.
 

Christian9112

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Not sure how bad I'm damaging the rear main seal or something in the engine by yanking in it like this but I'm sure it's not good
 

catbird7

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It might help to place shims between the flex plate and engine block to support the flex plate when applying pressure with pry bar. X2 on the spray lube .
 

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