Possible converter damage???

Greg Reimer 7376 · 06-07-2011, 08:41 PM

Sunday,I took my Chevelle to Irwindale for Summit Race #3. Car is a 327,250/245 horse, large journal steel crank, Powerglide trans, 8 3/4 converter, not sure of the make, 5.38 gears, etc. etc. and on the first time only, the engine let go about 250 feet out. It locked up solid. I instantly shoved the trans in neutral and rolled off the end of the track and off the first return road. No oil on the track, water in the oil, etc, engine is locked up solid. A 3 foot breaker bar wouldn't move it either direction. I was wondering if the sudden engine failure hurt the converter. It wasn't all the way up in first yet, probably 5-5500 max,car didn't lock the rear wheels for a bit, just wondering what you guys think if I hurt the converter. I'll probably pull the engine in a weekend or two. Not what I needed. ('>')?

Ed Wright · 06-07-2011, 08:49 PM

Greg, I would definetly send it in. Probably find a name on it when you get it out.

ss3011 · 06-07-2011, 10:21 PM

If you can't turn over the engine, then it becomes tricky to get the converter unbolted from the flexplate. Pull the engine and trans as one. Pull the trans and leave the converter bolted up, be careful to pull the trans straight out of the converter. You should be able to get the converter bolts off once the trans is removed. It is probably safe to have the converter checked out, but if the engine stops suddenly, but the trans is still spinning, it is kind of the opposite of letting your tires hook up while doing a burnout. It causes the sprag to overrun, which won't do any damage to it. I bet your converter is OK.

Mark Yacavone · 06-07-2011, 10:31 PM

I'd say probably not , under the circumstances.
Engine stops, the pump, or impeller portion of the converter stops too.
The stator may have been freewheeling, but the fluid pressure coming off the turbine would have been minimal, so it wouldn't have loaded the sprag too abruptly.
Then again, if you don't know what you have there, it's probably time to take a look anyway.
PM me if you'd like more info.

Ultimate Converter Concepts · 06-08-2011, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark yacavone

i'd say probably not , under the circumstances.
Engine stops, the pump, or impeller portion of the converter stops too.
The stator may have been freewheeling, but the fluid pressure coming off the turbine would have been minimal, so it wouldn't have loaded the sprag too abruptly.
Then again, if you don't know what you have there, it's probably time to take a look anyway.
Pm me if you'd like more info.

x2

06-07-2011, 08:41 PM	#1
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,135 Likes: 172 Liked 704 Times in 218 Posts	Possible converter damage??? Sunday,I took my Chevelle to Irwindale for Summit Race #3. Car is a 327,250/245 horse, large journal steel crank, Powerglide trans, 8 3/4 converter, not sure of the make, 5.38 gears, etc. etc. and on the first time only, the engine let go about 250 feet out. It locked up solid. I instantly shoved the trans in neutral and rolled off the end of the track and off the first return road. No oil on the track, water in the oil, etc, engine is locked up solid. A 3 foot breaker bar wouldn't move it either direction. I was wondering if the sudden engine failure hurt the converter. It wasn't all the way up in first yet, probably 5-5500 max,car didn't lock the rear wheels for a bit, just wondering what you guys think if I hurt the converter. I'll probably pull the engine in a weekend or two. Not what I needed. ('>')?

06-07-2011, 08:49 PM	#2
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Possible converter damage??? Greg, I would definetly send it in. Probably find a name on it when you get it out. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

06-07-2011, 10:31 PM	#4
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,809 Likes: 2,899 Liked 5,110 Times in 1,948 Posts	Re: Possible converter damage??? I'd say probably not , under the circumstances. Engine stops, the pump, or impeller portion of the converter stops too. The stator may have been freewheeling, but the fluid pressure coming off the turbine would have been minimal, so it wouldn't have loaded the sprag too abruptly. Then again, if you don't know what you have there, it's probably time to take a look anyway. PM me if you'd like more info. __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

06-07-2011, 10:21 PM	#3
ss3011 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 909 Likes: 70 Liked 239 Times in 114 Posts	Re: Possible converter damage??? If you can't turn over the engine, then it becomes tricky to get the converter unbolted from the flexplate. Pull the engine and trans as one. Pull the trans and leave the converter bolted up, be careful to pull the trans straight out of the converter. You should be able to get the converter bolts off once the trans is removed. It is probably safe to have the converter checked out, but if the engine stops suddenly, but the trans is still spinning, it is kind of the opposite of letting your tires hook up while doing a burnout. It causes the sprag to overrun, which won't do any damage to it. I bet your converter is OK.