Any one have tips...

[DMeN Z]

to getting a slushbox (auto trans) installed? Alignment tips, special notes, tools not common for the job, etc..
THESE DAMN AUTOS SUCK A$$...
I Don't remember the 5spd on the N/A being anywhere remotely this difficult to bolt down.

The problem: Trans aligned and in position with pins on block. Torque converter fully seated before being bolted up to the flexplate. "Stab" the trans in place and once within 1inch of completely sealing, the trans won't move forward anymore and I can't even use the bolts to "hold" the trans in place because I space is just far enough to keep them from threading. (Using a trans jack with tilt feature) I can almost bet, that sucker just needs a good thrust or needs to be rammed in....OH YEA, I SO TOTALLY WENT THERE.

[z32pilot62]

Just a crazy thought but is there a pilot bearing in there for a Manual trans and you are trying to bolt up an Autotragic? I could totally be wrong but its worth a shot. Also did you make sure the ground cable was out of the way? Other than that it should slide in easy without needing a good thrust or ramming lol

[Ace2cool]

I didn't know yours was A/T too.....

[Chase300]

The torque converter is keyed, the hole is circular with one straight edge, you have to align the transmission into the keyed hole first before it will "slide" in.
its easiest to look at your transmission to see where about the straight edge is on the pin then turn your crank so that the torque converter is roughly sitting about the same way then just rock it back and forth slightly till it goes in. Good luck

[DMeN Z]

Just a crazy thought but is there a pilot bearing in there for a Manual trans and you are trying to bolt up an Autotragic? I could totally be wrong but its worth a shot. Also did you make sure the ground cable was out of the way? Other than that it should slide in easy without needing a good thrust or ramming lol

Nah man, nothing like that in the way. That's what I keep thinking, shouldn't need that much of a push to slide forward.

I didn't know yours was A/T too.....

Sadly it is, but it's been too much fun and has taken much abuse without taking a dump. Until then, the trans stays...

The torque converter is keyed, the hole is circular with one straight edge, you have to align the transmission into the keyed hole first before it will "slide" in.
its easiest to look at your transmission to see where about the straight edge is on the pin then turn your crank so that the torque converter is roughly sitting about the same way then just rock it back and forth slightly till it goes in. Good luck

So are you saying it might be easier to have the TC bolted up to the flexplate while it's on the motor? Then just try rocking on to the trans when trying to "stab" it? I'm doing all this while it's in the car and I had the TC seated before trying to bolt up, but I think every time I bolt it to the flex plate it gets pulled out slightly so it's not fully seated.
You suggest I try it like this?

[Chase300]

You have to bolt it to the flex plate first. 4 bolts can be a lil tricky but if you keep twisting the crank to get each bolt hole at 6 oclock it should be fairly easy. If you seat your tq convertor in your transmission then try to install youll never be able to bolt it to the flex plate. Its how i do it everytime except i bolt torque convertor to flex plate while the engine is out of the car. good luck

[DMeN Z]

I got the TC bolted up to the flex plate while in the car. TC in the trans and flex plate on the back of the motor. What I kept thinking was the TC kept being pulled out via bolting down to flexplate. I guess that's exactly what keeps happening...damn tt.net kept saying to have the TC in the trans but the info was old...
Alright Chase I'ma give it try the way you described it. Should've went with my gut

[Chase300]

haha ya tt.net was lieing to you. The transmission just seats into the TC after TC is bolted to the flexplate then transmission bolts to the block. Good luck!

[z32pilot62]

Make for GOD DAMN sure that you get the TC seated all the way into the trans if you are going to do it that way, you will shell out a transmission pump faster than Michael Jackson would shell out a 12 year old boy if you dont get it to fully seat. When you put the TC into the transmission you should feel it hit three points of engagement. I dont understand how bolting the TC to the flexplate is easier that just looking at where the key is on the TC and then finding it on the crank and lining them up as close as you can before installing the trans is that difficult. You should never bolt a TC to the flex plate and then install the trans behind it as you will usually break the back out of the pump because you did not get it to engage correctly. I can assure you that I did have an automatic and did have to install one before and NEVER bolted the tc to the flywheel first. Also I definitely dont remember there being any sort of "flat spot/keyway" on the TC.

Page 96 under "Automatic Transmission" in this should back up my "claims" above: http://www.300zx-twinturbo.com/cgi-bin/manual.cgi

[Chase300]

Well if you dont believe me heres a picture of my TC



It only slides into the transmission one way.. hence makes it easy to properly seat it. Ive done it that way multiple times. bolt to flexplate then slide transmission onto the torque convertor. If its not lined up properly you will not be able to bolt the transmission to the block. Fairly simple to tell if your seated or not.

[nissanfreak12]

Here is an off the wall question, are you sure thats the right TC? I just did mine about 6 months ago and it wasn't flattened on the side like this one, it had two indents directly across fron the other maybe a half an inch deep by a 1/4 in wide. Mine is a N/A, but I wouldn't think it is that much different.

I did also put it in the transmission like z32pilot said and it slid right in. Then i bolted down the tc on the flex plate on the starter side with the metal plates not on. I wish i had pics of the TC so i could show you, hopefully you understand. I wish I could be more help, Good Luck.

[z32pilot62]

Well if you dont believe me heres a picture of my TC



It only slides into the transmission one way.. hence makes it easy to properly seat it. Ive done it that way multiple times. bolt to flexplate then slide transmission onto the torque convertor. If its not lined up properly you will not be able to bolt the transmission to the block. Fairly simple to tell if your seated or not.

Okay yes that part is "keyed" but the other side is not so it doesnt make sense that he is having problems unless he is not getting the converter fully seated into the trans. If he does get it fully seated it is much easier to install the trans with the TC already in and just eyeball the bolts on the TC to where they should be on the flywheel. Easiest way to do that is just line up one of the bolt holes in the TC with one on the bell housing and do the same with the flywheel. Just make sure you think ahead and do the holes to the same holes.

[Chase300]

I'm not sure why it would matter how you bolted it to the "flexplate"? correct me if im mistaken but the transmission engages the torque converter which is bolted to the flexplate which is bolted to the crank. Both sides of the TC back end have flat keys on both sides like the picture one at 3 and one at 9 o clock or 6 and 12 i u prefer. Well im sure if he has doubts i would do what you said pilot and follow the manual but im just saying this is how i do it and ive had no problems.

[Barry (NJ)]

I've always had the Torque Converter attached to the Transmission when I bolt it to the motor. There is a removable Transmission Mounting gusset on the motor towards the back on the passenger's side (US Spec) that gets attached after the motor and trans are connected. The flex-plate to torque-converter bolts are accessed at the opening created when that plate isn't attached. I always have to spin the TC around a bit to get it fully seated into the transmission, there should be about an inch gap between the TC and a ruler placed across the edges of the bell housing. It's all explained in the FSM. See AT page 96 in the 1990 FSM, or AT page 100 in the 1995 FSM.

[UnrivaledTRIP]

I was having a hard time installing the converter on my 2004 Frontier 4x4. The same thing was happening. Every time I got the transmission within an inch of mounting distance, the converter bolts were already pressing against the flywheel and I couldn't figure out WHY. After "experimenting" with the old transmission, I discovered the smaller inside shaft wasn't going all the way into the transmission. Rubber hammer and a little peckering and now the converter finally seats nice and tight as should.