torque converter ballooning?

Derek

Hello, my buddy has a 1980 jeep j10 4x4 with a 360 and 727 trans, it has wiped out the crank 2 times at the thrust bearing it did not hurt the bearing. BTW he had the engine and trans rebuilt at the same time, the engine guy blames trans and the trans guy blames the engine. I'm thinking something is pushing on the crank maybe torque converter ballooning? anyone run onto this problem? Thanks Derek

ironman_gq

having the engine rebuilt shouldnt affect anything with the torque convertor. Are you sure he has the right converter. I would say its a problem with the converter if its ballooning. If it was the crank maybe the block is warped after the rebuild.

Derek

yes it is the right converter just don't know if it is a good one. the engine guy went through it for the seconnd time and said no problems with the engine. that only leaves a (bad) converter ballooning or maybe some freak thing with trans pump over pressure pushing on the crank? whatcha think? thanks for the reply

tarior

I think TC ballooning is typically only a problem with big shots of nitrous and high rpm. That doesn't necessarily mean that something isn't wrong with the trans.

jeepsr4ever

Yes it can happen when you have tons of power..meaning 500+ FT lbs of torque. If I were the machinist I would be checking the crank for straitness...or block.

Blown7

Two thoughts (or maybe more depending on how much I type)

First converter ballooning usually only happens under a high stall condition like a loaded trans launch from the line on the quartermile.

Second there is a big discussion on the YellowBullet form on engine thrust bearing wipeout

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=234678

There is also a good you tube vid on TC movement under power

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEfqKoilLkI

Usually two reasons are the TC is loaded at stall (balloons)or the converter oil pressure is too high and pushes the TC against the engine thrust bearing.

Me I just wiped out the TH400 oil pump gears not allowing enough play in the TC slot for TC movement. I hopefully fixed that by milling the oil pump slot deeper and taking 1/8 inch off the TC snout.

Blown7

BTW there is also a thread on Pirate about this too.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=868363

tarior

Did he get the torque converter seated all the way into the pump? AFAIK, AMCs aren't known for losing their thrust bearings at all.

Derek

thanks for all the replys i going to talk to him about it. much appreciated.

tarior

Oh, and one more thing. You can't go around driving an AMC four quarts low of oil. :mrgreen: Bad things happen. :wink: