dropping my new motor in. when i tighten down the bellhousing to the motor i cannot turn the motor by hand. If I loosen the bellhousing by a couple of threads the motor turns fine...Ive been trying to solve this for 2 days now and have pulled and dropped the motor back in 3 times. Im lost. any suggestions?

 

is it automatic?? if so is the torque converter seated fully?

 

its an aod...yes it is fully seated...checked over and over...

 

This sounds like a convertor issue to me too. Does it have a drain plug that isn't lined up?

 

Does it have a pilot bushing in the crank? Those are for manuals.

 

there is no pilot bushing but it is a VERY snug fit.

 

I just went through this. (well, the guy who dropped my motor in for me). He didn't have it lined up properly and went to crank it over and bent the flex pate and chipped the gears on the starter. (this is all after I told him to make sure it was lined up before trying to start it).

So be sure that it is lined up properly! If you've checked it 3 times, check it 3 more!

 

making sure it is lined up is not the problem...when the torque converter is not lined up it will wiggle a bit...when it is fully seated it will not. I think the problem may be the mounting bolts that are welded up to the torque converter, the distance from the mounting points to the end of the hub is too long pushing the hub too far into the transmission.

PS ever drop a wrench and have it land perfectly into your exhaust flange and have it slide down to where it is un reachable all while drinking arrogant bastard?

 

I lose wrenches to the nether regions of cars all the time. They dont hit the floor, they dont land anywhere that can be seen or reached, they just enter a black hole and are never seen again, even when the engine is pulled. It must be a portal to the Land of The Lost and the dinosaurs are building cars with my parts and tools.

Im going to guess your problem stems from the converter and flexplate not liking each other. Time to start measuring. Or.... perhaps you left out the plate that goes behind the flexplate and between the engine and transmission. You cant possibly that Ford noobish though, could you? Is it in there?

 

Ummm....you'll have to explain that better to me. It sounds backwards. When the conv is lined up, there should be some movement. When it is not, there won't be any. It sounds a lot like the convertor is not all the way in the pump. Also, when tightening the nuts, it should pull the convertor towards the motor so, I don't see that as a problem. (when installed with the trans completely against the motor, there should be a gap between the flexplate and the convertor.



Spent many hours looking for wrenches dropped into the black hole. (they ain't cheap) Don't leave drain pans under car either....wrench will find it.