Mopar Muscle Association UK

When I started the resto on the charger about 18 months ago I removed the engine with the gearbox in situ but I made a complete pigs ear of it and charged in without thinking too much. I left the torque convertor bolted on and had to wiggle the engine some to bring it forward and up. Is it common for damage to occur to the gearbox when the engine is removed in this way? It's all back together now but I will be refilling the box with oil at the weekend and hopefully firing the car up. And its been on my mind for a while that I've done some damage. Also is there a procedure that I should follow when refilling with oil. Cheers.

The big problem is the front seal on the box gets damaged doing it that way, I always make sure the vertor stays on the box to try and avoid that problem, Blue or Duncan will be able to say if the shafts can be damaged, the other problem I can see if you refitted it that way is knowing if the vertor has engaged the pump correctly...

I took the converter off before I refitted it and put it back together the right way so if it is damaged it would occured on removal. Do the seals leak badly once they are damaged?

OH yes , big leaks and verry irate wife when she walks through it carrying the shoping and slips botty over boobie , cost me lots of flowers and things , not cheap

ALWAYS change the front seal when ever you remove the torque converter. They will ALWAYS leak if you don't bother and sometimes leak even if you do! They have a mind of their own and like annoying you.

Right I've got a seal coming from US Automotive, and as Dave says they always leak when the converter is removed I have finished work early and taken tomorrow off work to try and get this done. I've got my fingers crossed that the seal is the only thing that needs replacing. Has anyone ever damaged the shafts when removing the engine the way I did or know if damage is likely? Also could someone kindly run me through the refilling procedure. Thanks for your help so far guys.

O.K. I've replaced the front seal today and refitted the box. It went back up so smoothly I couldn't beleive it. But what I did notice is that there is a small amount of play on the first shaft ( the one with the smaller end that fits inside the other if that makes sense ) and this seems to increase with the converter on. Is this normal? Please Please Please say yes. I've got no more money to spend on this car and with it so close to being finished I'll be gutted if the box has had it.

Can't figure out what shaft you mean? I thought you ment the input shaft but how would you tell when the converter is on???

Hi Dave just found a pic on the net, it's a 904 I think but you will see what I mean. I've pointed an arrow to it.

OK that is the input shaft. The end play has a set spec. Give me a few mins to look that up.

I just cannot see how you can tell how much end play there is when the convertor is in place.

End play should be 37-84 thou. I think. Will double check when I get home.

I doubt you did any harm so stop worrying.

Thanks Dave, you've eased my mind a bit. The play wasn't alot but when I put the converter on the converter would rock up and down, I suppose I'm mistaking this movement for the input shaft.

Oh you mean side to side play not in and out (end) play? Yeah I think that one does have a bit of side play on it. It is only secured at the far end. Don't worry about it.

Phew! Thank you Dave. That's a relief.