Jvette73
Senior Member
926 posts [100%]
Severna Park, Maryland
| Re: Tranny has arived (Jvette73) | 3:51 AM 9/15/2001 | |
| If it does turn out to be an unbalanced convertor then I wont nessisarly blame BTO. I too was impressed with the helpfull knowledge from Steve. I think they are running a very good business there. The 200R they built for me was tested prior to shipping. However it was tested with another convertor. The convertor I was sold was shipped dry directly off the shelf. BTO does not build thier own convertors. If it turns out to be the convertor, I would have to place fault on the manufacturor of that convertor. BTO trusts that thier supplier is providing them with good parts. As we all know even a good supplier can have a few bad parts here and there. My neighbor, for his Cuda, got a convertor from TCI that had the entire wrong front half welded on. It was a single convertor, comprised of two halfs of different convertors. Not matter how hard we tried or how many different flexplates we tried, it wouldnt bolt up. It took us a while to figure that one out. Anyhow, other than the vibe, my car is ready for a test drive. Some im sure would have gone ahead and driven it like that. I have not yet driven the car at all. I wont untill I get to the bottom of the vibration problem. Leaving it that way will eventually cause damage to the trans. Im pretty sure ill be pulling this thing back out again.
| Jvette73
Senior Member
926 posts [100%]
Severna Park, Maryland
| Re: Tranny has arived (Jvette73) | 6:54 PM 9/15/2001 | |
| It might be possible that the vibration problem is my fault, and not a bad convertor. It seems as though there might be excessive flexplate runout. It is east to distort the flexplate when bolting up the convertor. Especially easy when switching to a convertor that uses metric bolts. As we all know, the holes in the flexplate must be slightly larger than the size bolts being used. Even though the stock TH400 flexplate was drilled for both patterns, it was still originally designed for use with standard 3/8" convertor bolts. The new 200R convertor uses 10mm bolts. The 10mm size bolts are slightly larger than the standard 3/8" bolts. Even though the 10mm bolts will go through the standard size holes, when you pull the convertor up to the flexplate, it makes a real tight fit. Mine I believe was a hair to tight. I was still able to get it togeather with the result being a pulling effect on the flexplate. I believe I may have warped the flexplate,by not first, slightly enlarging the flexplate boltholes to match the slightly larger diameter 10mm fasteners. I unbolted the convertor and slightly enlarged the holes with 7/16" bit. After doing this it was much easier getting the convertor bolts in. By this time though, its to late. The damage has been done. The flexplate is distorted and producing this vibration. This is my theory anyway at this point. Ill be pulling the trans back out and replacing the flexplate, making sure this time, that the holes in the flexplate from the beginning, are the correct size for a smooth easy bolt up. Bubba...dats me At least I havnt drivin the car yet. Im pretty sure I havnt done any permanent damage. Im glad I have the patience to work things out. I wish I woulda figured it out before first trying to bolt it up. My mistakes can be your insight. Take you time on things. If it dont seem right, then it probably aint. I wish the instruction packet I recieved with the tranny would have warned me of this. Again, theres a chance that this theory could be totally wrong. There was a typo in the instructions I recieved from BTO. It was in the section that describes the cooling lines. In the instructions, it states that the trans fitting for cooling line pressure out on the 200R, is the bottom fitting. This is incorrect. The 700R pressure line out is the bottom, but the pressure out on the 200R is the top fitting, the same as it is for the TH400. I will get this thing right soon. I hope others can learn from my expierence, no matter if im right or wrong. BTO has corrected thier typo error concerning cooling line pressure out.
[Modified by Jvette73, 10:13 AM 9/16/2001]
| sd pacecar
Senior Member
787 posts [100%]
san diego
| Re: Tranny has arived (Jvette73) | 4:54 PM 9/16/2001 | |
| Although this isn't technically an engine mod, you should post your install in that section. It will be of immense help to others. _______
| Jvette73
Senior Member
926 posts [100%]
Severna Park, Maryland
| Re: Tranny has arived (sd pacecar) | 3:00 PM 9/18/2001 | |
| New flywheel and convertor on the way now. BTO is making the exchange whether this convertor is bad or not. Good PR in my opinion. Im doin both pieces cause I dont wanna do the job 3 times Ill let you all know when I hear back on the suspected convertor. According to Steve at BTO they do show up now and then. I guess mine was one from either now or then. Keep the faith.
| Jvette73
Senior Member
926 posts [100%]
Severna Park, Maryland
| Re: Tranny has arived (is done)(Jvette73) | 6:15 AM 9/30/2001 | |
| All back togeather now. No vibration. I conclude it must have been the convertor causing the problem. Passed all the function tests on first test drive. Still gathering data on WOT upshift points. The car feels much faster from the hole. Amazingly though, still no traction problems. Hold the brake, bring up the R's, side step the brake and punch the gas. No bog, one little tiny screech from the rear tires and off it goes. The 350 small block is not a real TQ monster and the Corvette has good launch traction too. I must have just the right camshaft for the combo too as the XE268 is a tiny bit sluggish on the far bottom end. Sure wheel spin is fun, but it doesnt get you from A to B. In 4th gear lockup on highway, with 26" tire and the 200R4/3.90, the engine revs 2400@70mph.
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