Torque Converter Bolts

[Maverick's_Monte]

Pics below show the before and after of my transmission rebuild. I am at the final stages of the reinstall, bolting the torque converter to the flywheel and one of the female threads on the TC will not accept a bolt. I tried each of my bolts and this one hole is a problem. Just my fingers, no tools. Each bolt will thread smoothly into the other two holes. Any help, tips or advice would be appreciated. I would hate to have to take out the transmission to fix something. The torque converter is brand new. What are the odds that it is cross threaded?

Thanks!

 

[pontiacgp]

can you get a tap in there to clear out the threads?

 

[lilbowtie]

Chasing the hole with a tap would be your best bet - if you pull your starter it will give you room. Since it's a new convertor make sure the thread isn't different, I've seen some stupid stuff.

 

[Maverick's_Monte]

Thank you both for the quick response. I will try the tap. There is plenty of room to work, I do have the starter out and the headers are not bolted in. I pulled the headers to facilitate the reinstall of the trans and while they were out I media blasted them, primed and painted with VHT. I used a large Char-Broil grill to bake the paint in stages. I uploaded a pic below.

 

[69hurstolds]

Fuel pump looks like it's upside down....oh wait, never mind.

Make sure to get the tap STRAIGHT. I'm assuming the hole at least lines up correctly with the flexplate. I agree with others that it may just need chasing or the threads got screwed up somehow. Did you take a flashlight to make sure there wasn't any garbage in there that doesn't belong, like welding slag, etc.?

 

[hoffa65]

most likely a ball of slag from welding the tab onto the TC, make sure the threads are the same as stated above, they may have mixed up the tads. If same threads then chase with a tap (test tap on good hole first), it should not take much force only when you hit the slag it should break free then be easy to tap. If not something is wrong and I would send it back for a new TC

 

[Texas82GP]

I would try a thread chaser rather than a thread cutting tap first. Hopefully it is just paint or like stated above, some welding spatter.

 

[buick7332]

If tapping a blind hole you will need a #3 tap (bottom tap) to get all the way down. If the threads are stripped you will have to use a heli coil to repair it. You can buy them at a good quality auto parts store

 

[Maverick's_Monte]

Thank you all for the helpful replies. I called in reinforcements on this one and reached out to a close friend of mine who is also a professional mechanic. Hearing my tale of woe, he offered to stop by last night and he confirmed that something was wrong with that particular thread (it was not just me! sweet vindication!!!) He cleaned the threads out with a chase and did have to end up using a tap to straighten those threads out. Once that happened he was able to sock the bolt down. It was still a little tough going in, compared to the other two that threaded butter smooth, but at least its straight.

I should be able to find some time today to finish bolting up the headers, add transmission fluid and start the car for the first time this year! I am very happy that this problem was able to be resolved with the trans in the car

 

[pontiacgp]

I like using loctite blue on those torque converter bolts....