[Milehighbmw]

I'm almost finished with my engine swap. (09 335i) I'm stressing about something I was recently reading. About the tourque converter clicking in place when installed. I definitely don't remember anything like that when I installed it. I slid the tourque converter on the transmission and then slid the transmission into the motor. It went together tight without force. I bolted everything together and thought nothing of it till now.

What are the odds I put the tourque converter in wrong?

[clegg]

You should actually feel two clunks to properly install the TC. When you first slide it on the trans input shaft you will turn it to engage the input shaft (one clunk) and then turn more to engage the pump second clunk.
If this was a new converter, you would also want to add a quart or so of trans fluid to the converter also.

[Milehighbmw]

Thanks. It wasn't a new converter so no worries there. I just can't remember. I know i slid it in and spun it till it felt seated but definitely didn't listen for 2 clunks. I just don't know what to do now. Anyway of knowing if it's ok without pulling it out?

[Milehighbmw]

The first thing I did once the transmission was bolted back to the engine was turn it over several times by the crank to confirm everything was turning smooth. Which it does. I don't know if that means much now.

I can get a used transmission for a few hundred bucks. I think I'm going to just roll the dice and see what happens unless someone has suggestions that don't involve pulling the transmission?

[clegg]

Either have to pull trans and check or roll the dice.

I would pull and check it. If it's is not on correctly, you will be pulling the trans eventually.

[type-dRew]

It is not optional to seat the torque converter. If you dont remember spinning it until it clunked down 3 times, then it is not seated and you will damage the front pump by starting the car.

Its not going to seat itself. Pull it apart and fix it.

[Jeef]

I think you should be fine. the transmission wouldn't go back in if your torque converter was not seated all the way on the trans input shaft.

[blown07]

I've only done this once on a turbo350 trans in a Chevy II. If the converter is not fully seated it will be pressed up against the flex plate making it (I would think) impossible to line up the bolt holes between the two. If there was some play between the 2 then you are good...just my experience and not 100% sure how this translates to this platform.

[Milehighbmw]

Thanks for the input. I'm going to go ahead and start it up this weekend and see what happens. Maybe it's a dumb thought but it seems like if it was improperly installed there would be some type of tension or noise when I turned the crank. I pulled the fan and spark plugs and turned it over several times again just to see and it's as smooth as could be. IDK maybe I'll get lucky.

I talked to a guy at a local trans shop and he said if it were his he'd go ahead and start it up and see what happens. He said if I broke it I already did it while bolting the transmission to the engine. He basically said if it's in wrong the damage is most likely already done. That's the other part.....seems like if I was breaking something as I bolted them together there would have been tension bolting them together but there wasn't. They slid together flush with no force.

I'll post my results later.....fingers crossed for now.

[clegg]

If the crank is turning easily like you said with the trans bolted up, you may have gotten lucky and the TC is seated properly.

Good luck.

[Brandoch]

Around the time I was still in high school I had to fix my wife's mustang. Pulled engine and trans out. When I reinstalled the transmission I did not properly seat the torque converter (didn't know I had to). I used an air impact to install the transmission to the engine, so no problems there. Started the engine and a huge squeal came out of the transmission. I had fused the tc to the input shaft. I had to go and get a used trans and tc from a wrecker. One of those dumb moments as a kid that you learn from.

[Jeef]

the trans would not go in nicely if your tq converter was not seated inside the trans all the way. you would have a gap between the block and transmission when trying to mate them.

if things went together fairly easily and without struggle/force, you got it done.

Don't over think this lol

[Milehighbmw]

Originally Posted by Jeef

the trans would not go in nicely if your tq converter was not seated inside the trans all the way. you would have a gap between the block and transmission when trying to mate them.

if things went together fairly easily and without struggle/force, you got it done.

Don't over think this lol

Thanks.....the engine and trans when together flush without bolts. There was no forcing it together. I've only ever put together one other automatic transmission on an f150. It went fine still driving it today. I don't even remember how this idea got in my head. Find out soon enough if I messed up or not.

[Milehighbmw]

Well.....I'm guessing it's ruined. Good news is engine swap went great fired right up. Bad news worst sounds ever coming from the bellhousing tourque converter area. Live and learn I guess.....Ouch....

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Oh man...sorry to hear that...

[Milehighbmw]

Yup.....very loud constant squeal. I'm assuming that's the pump that has been refered to but I don't really know.

[Brandoch]

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Around the time I was still in high school I had to fix my wife's mustang. Pulled engine and trans out. When I reinstalled the transmission I did not properly seat the torque converter (didn't know I had to). I used an air impact to install the transmission to the engine, so no problems there. Started the engine and a huge squeal came out of the transmission. I had fused the tc to the input shaft. I had to go and get a used trans and tc from a wrecker. One of those dumb moments as a kid that you learn from.

Originally Posted by Milehighbmw

Yup.....very loud constant squeal. I'm assuming that's the pump that has been refered to but I don't really know.

That's what I was trying to warn you about. That really is to bad.

[Milehighbmw]

So I pulled the transmission. I pulled the tourque converter. I have no idea how to tell if anything is damaged. I definitely figured out how to put the converter in all the way. Nothing visually appears damaged. When I spin the converter with it all the way in I can clearly hear it pumping the remaining fluid. I'm not sure what to do at this point. Any suggestions?

[Milehighbmw]

For anyone who might go thru this someday. I decided after talking to a couple people I had 2 choices. #1 take the transmission and tourque converter to a shop and pay them to inspect it or #2 reinstall it and hope for the best.

I decided to reinstall it. Well.....it's in. All I've done so far is just start it for a few seconds. So far so good. No strange noise so I'm hopeful it's ok. Sometime this week I'll have everything buttoned up to take it on it's first drive. I'll keep this posted as to the results.