Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0

Topic: Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice. (Read 1525 times) previous topic - next topic

Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice.

September 09, 2009, 10:28:09 PM

Ok, so we've been trying to get this bird running. The motor sounds great, but we've been battling with the transmission.

A friend gave me his transmission out of a wrecked bird. its also a c4, I found out it is indeed a c4. tried the bell housing that came with it (shorter) it seemed too tight, even before bolting things down. Tried my newer, deeper bell, and I cant get anything out of the transmission. The wheels start to spin for about 3 seconds and then quit. A friend told me that the 66 289's are different than todays. (I dunno) He said that the torque converters were different and that the outer/male shafts were longer than they are now. so far I'm throwing the B.S. flags on this, but, he knows more about these things than I do so who knows.

I do have a few questions.

(1) are the flex plates any different in dish depth, I know width, tooth ratio, and weights are different.

(2) is there any such thing as different lengthed torque converter shafts.

(3) if both answers to 1 and 2 are no, can somebody please confirm what size bell I need for this thing. I'm getting kinda tired of pulling it out, and re-installing it. lol

Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice.

Reply #1 – September 09, 2009, 10:52:32 PM

6.25" bell is what you should have. I've edited this post to show the pic of how I measured mine. The spacer plate is more like 1/16" as well. I assume the pump drive might not have been in all the way as mentioned.

Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice.

Reply #2 – September 10, 2009, 12:36:30 AM

its more like a 1/16 inch dust plate. lol and I think I have both a 6.25" and a 6.75" bell (I have two bells.) How many different bells are there for these? I do have two c4's exact same trans. housings, filter screen covers, bolts etc. etc.

Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice.

Reply #3 – September 10, 2009, 07:24:44 AM

Are you saying you tried bolting the tranny to the engine but it wouldn't go? As in, the bolts wouldn't pull the tranny up tight to the engine? If this is the case, when this happens it's usually because the torque converter was not engaged into the transmission all the way. The splined input shaft may have engaged, but the slotted pump drive (the slots on the end of the converter) may not have. If you really came onto the bolts trying to draw it in you may have damaged the tranny's pump.

Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice.

Reply #4 – September 10, 2009, 11:02:57 AM

While I know there are different bellhousing depths and converters to match each, I don't have a clue as to which is which... Mustang II used a unique(small) bell/converter combo...

BUT you should be able to measure the depth of the converter in the bell... With the converter FULLY seated, measure from the bottom of the converter's threaded studs to the mating surface of the bell... Then from the engine(plate) mating surface to the flexplate stud openings... Allow a 1/4" less on the converter measurement, any more than 1/2" and I'd be leery of the bell/converter/flexplate combo...

Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice.

Reply #5 – September 10, 2009, 01:09:10 PM

ok, I'll have to go measure the bell again. lol I'm not sure yet.

We tried for about 20 min. to a half hr. to get the stupid pump drive to seat. we couldnt get it for anything. the splines were in there, but the pump drive wasnt. Thats why my friend told me to check and make sure there werent different lenghts in pump drive shafts.

Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice.

Reply #6 – September 10, 2009, 09:39:36 PM

Man, when i swapped my motor, and went to put it back in, I tried at least three separate times to get my torque converter to seat. Finally I was telling a friend about all the hassle I was going through and he walked over, twisted it on the shaft and thunk! It seated fully. Of course, my transmission would not bolt up properly without the converter being seated.

Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice.

Reply #7 – September 10, 2009, 10:31:03 PM

Quote from: jrad235;290795

Of course, my transmission would not bolt up properly without the converter being seated.

well, its easy to hook it up when you have the wrong sized bell, and theres room for the torque conv. to float around in there. lol

Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice.

Reply #8 – September 11, 2009, 11:05:24 AM

when seating the converter feel for the "3 clicks" if you feel all 3 and it still doesnt seem to be in place then go on to the different bell.

Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice.

Reply #9 – September 12, 2009, 01:06:35 PM

thats the problem, we cant get that third click to save our butts. for some reason, we cant get the pump drive to seat.

Thunderbird 5, team shameless 0 - need advice.

Reply #10 – September 12, 2009, 05:07:35 PM

have you tried rocking the converter? when I seat them I wiggle and turn and wiggle and turn until it pops in. if at all possible can you stand the whole tranny up on the tail shaft and use gravity to help it fall into place? I have done this a time or two when I couldnt get them to go in. just make sure you do it in a drain pan or drain the fluid first.