1990 chevy suburban torque converter

[Caddycruisn]

I bought a 1990 chevy suburban thats been sitting 9 years Im new to restoring vehicles. I changed out the fuel lines to get er goin started it up and it had a rough idle im figuring due to tps. Finally it started slowing down a bit and i heard a very loud rattle noise like metal on metal sound. The more rpms that cranked the faster it would rattle. I believe its the torque converter. Any ideas on testing this. It to make sure its not a bad tranny or any ways to possible save the torque converter

 

[Raizinman]

If I suspected a bad torque converter, I would put the vehicle on a lift, remove the torque converter cover, and then if the torque converter is bad, you will REALLY hear it rattling very loud while you are standing near it. If some or many of the fins have broken lose, you will have noticeable slippage in all gears and higher than normal RPM shifts. Is this happening?

I would want to know how is the fluid? The color? The smell? Are you sure the fluid level is correct? Often with a rattling torque converter the fluid will have lots of metal particles in it. Take a sample and put fluid on a white paper towel for examination.

If you find metal particles, you might be better off getting a salvage yard tranny or getting a Jasper rebuild.

 

[boomerang]

When I was dating the woman who later became my wife, while trying to determine the source of a noise that was coming from her car I removed the splash shield to find that the bolts holding the torque convertor to the flex plate had loosened enough to where they were close to becoming totally disengaged. I was one happy camper to find that problem when I did. It would not have been possible to run a tap in those threaded bosses with the trans and convertor in place and even then, that would be only if there was enough thread to salvage. Not knowing the history of the car because she had bought it used, I didn't know if they had come loose through natural causes or through a negligent repair job. Probably the latter because I had never and have never heard of anyone with the same problem.

 

[Caddycruisn]

When I was dating the woman who later became my wife, while trying to determine the source of a noise that was coming from her car I removed the splash shield to find that the bolts holding the torque convertor to the flex plate had loosened enough to where they were close to becoming totally disengaged. I was one happy camper to find that problem when I did. It would not have been possible to run a tap in those threaded bosses with the trans and convertor in place and even then, that would be only if there was enough thread to salvage. Not knowing the history of the car because she had bought it used, I didn't know if they had come loose through natural causes or through a negligent repair job. Probably the latter because I had never and have never heard of anyone with the same problem.

Thanks for the info guys. I did do some pondering on it. Qouldnt it be impossible for the torque converter to be the problem. If i remember correctly the torque converter is what makes it possible for the engine to hold an idle. The does idle but with that loud metal to metal banging to go with it.

 

[Iron Woode]

Thanks for the info guys. I did do some pondering on it. Qouldnt it be impossible for the torque converter to be the problem. If i remember correctly the torque converter is what makes it possible for the engine to hold an idle. The does idle but with that loud metal to metal banging to go with it.

sounds more like something is wrong in the engine.

what does it sound like? is it loud? quiet? bad valvetrain? piston slap? bad bearing? blocked oil gallery? exhaust rattle?

 

[thedarkwolf]

What does the torque converter have to do with idle? Nothing as far as I know.

My van idled fine after that finally happened. What it wouldn't do was start again once I turned it off for obvious reasons. Before the flex plate completely gave out it sounded like loud valve tapping.

 

[Iron Woode]

What does the torque converter have to do with idle? Nothing as far as I know.

My van idled fine after that finally happened. What it wouldn't do was start again once I turned it off for obvious reasons. Before the flex plate completely gave out it sounded like loud valve tapping.

cool!

I managed to snap the neck of my torque convertor one day in my Chrysler. The car idled just fine, but it was dead in the water.

its an A998 (smallblock auto) pre-lockup convertor transmission, so I had it rebuilt and it's been going strong since 1992.

 

[boomerang]

What does the torque converter have to do with idle? Nothing as far as I know.

My van idled fine after that finally happened. What it wouldn't do was start again once I turned it off for obvious reasons. Before the flex plate completely gave out it sounded like loud valve tapping.

Now that's something you don't see everyday.