Crap, th350 emergency

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by JP1738

I don't really know yet. I've got a brand new transmission sitting in the floor of the shop ready to go in, but everyone on here seems to be really stressing the potential debris in the converter and I'm afraid to put it all back together without cutting my converter open and cleaning it. At this point I can't find any evidence that there is any debris in the converter after flushing and draining it over the course of this week. The fluid looked new the first time I drained it and has not revealed any additional debris since I started pouring fluid in it to flush it out. I also have not torn into my transmission to see what came apart or failed, so I don't know what the material is from or if it could have made it's way into the converter.

Dawson, based on your bolded comments above, I'd reinstall it and go race. Then change the fluid again after Gainesville. I've done the same numerous times over 3 decades without issue. I'm not a believer of cutting open converters to clean or "freshen". My converters only go back to the manufacturer if broken. Put a magnet in the pan if you already don't have one in there.

Who's converter are you running and what does it flash to and fall back to on the shift?

[JP1738]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Dawson, based on your bolded comments above, I'd reinstall it and go race. Then change the fluid again after Gainesville. I've done the same numerous times over 3 decades without issue. I'm not a believer of cutting open converters to clean or "freshen". My converters only go back to the manufacturer if broken. Put a magnet in the pan if you already don't have one in there.

Who's converter are you running and what does it flash to and fall back to on the shift?

I had not considered running it and then changing the fluid, that's a fabulous idea and would help give me piece of mind. I don't know the converter brand, but I'll post a picture of what was stamped on the top and bottom of it so maybe someone will recognize it. The pan has a magnet, I'll make sure to clean it well and put it back when it goes back together. It's really hard to tell what the converter clashes to. The brakes aren't good enough to flash it in the pits, and first gear is so short I'm not sure what it goes to right off the line as the rpms climb so quickly. Looking back at in-car camera footage, it appears to flash around 4600 and fall to 5000-5100 on both gear changes. That was with the original intake that was on the car though, I don't have data on the new one yet, and it definitely made more power with it.

[Glenn Briglio]

Originally Posted by JP1738

I had not considered running it and then changing the fluid, that's a fabulous idea and would help give me piece of mind. I don't know the converter brand, but I'll post a picture of what was stamped on the top and bottom of it so maybe someone will recognize it. The pan has a magnet, I'll make sure to clean it well and put it back when it goes back together. It's really hard to tell what the converter clashes to. The brakes aren't good enough to flash it in the pits, and first gear is so short I'm not sure what it goes to right off the line as the rpms climb so quickly. Looking back at in-car camera footage, it appears to flash around 4600 and fall to 5000-5100 on both gear changes. That was with the original intake that was on the car though, I don't have data on the new one yet, and it definitely made more power with it.

Easy way to flash convertor. After a run on return road stop car and put in high. Floor throttle and watch tach for highest reading.

[dragracerray]

Originally Posted by Glenn Briglio

Easy way to flash convertor. After a run on return road stop car and put in high. Floor throttle and watch tach for highest reading.

I agree with Glenn. I think it is a little easier on the converter and trans if you mat the gas in high gear from a 10-15 MPH roll instead of stopped. Ray

[Eman]

At the least flush out or replace the cooler, that is where debris can be found. Buy a couple of neodymium magnets and put them in the pan in the future.

[Kingpen]

Sure looks like an ATI number on pilot ,you should call and talk to Charlie Plott,he can tell you for sure…..Victor Penrod

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Kingpen

Sure looks like an ATI number on pilot ,you should call and talk to Charlie Plott,he can tell you for sure…..Victor Penrod

Yup, and looks like their cover.They aren't really billet, but cast and machined.

[Bill Harris]

It looks like you are in Charlotte, Ultimate Converter Concepts is right up the road in Cornelius, NC. 704 892 6880

[pmrphil]

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

It looks like you are in Charlotte, Ultimate Converter Concepts is right up the road in Cornelius, NC. 704 892 6880

No, Lenny sold Ultimate to Mongomery and he moved it to South Carolina

[JP1738]

Boys and girls, we are back! Just reinstalled a brand new transmission curtesy of Scot Lamar last night with the help from my dad and some mountain dew. After flushing the converter once more in a fashion described by Mark's ghost writer, we threw everything back together and got it running again. I hopped in it and took it off jackstands to drive it around the block. Seems to have all 3 forward gears now! I'll get my broken trans torn apart soon and diagnosed. Would like to avoid a similar mishap in the future. If the weather holds out, I'll try to test on Sunday and make sure all is well!