Ouch. WWIII under my truck

Guys,
I have a new trans on the way as I posted in another thread. A seperate issue, don't think its the tranny doing this. I have been having a slight rattle/pop/click in the bell housing area. It is damn hard to pinpoint but definately was coming from under the truck more so toward the rear of the engine, high up toward the firewall it sounded. I pulled the LITTLE access hole covers and loosened the starter and the plastic cover at the starter to give it a look. I could see nothing obviously wrong. Looking for TC bolts or flexplate to crank bolts backed out or cracks in the flexplate. Thinking I would be in there soon when I replaced tranny, I'll let it ride till then.

Yesterday I took it for a small drive after replacing a front axle seal. I get back home and left it idling when I got out. It now sounds like hell. Loud pops/clicks/ and another strange noise that words can't describe. Can hear it more now under the hood, more toward the the passenger side, rearward still. But still darn hard to pinpoint.

I am praying its the flexplate or something there. Hearing it now has me worried of more serious things.

Anybody have a flexplate go south? How bad did it sound?

Anything rearward to the engine that can go bad that would sound off badly? The truck idles fine and runs fine.

Anybody have a Precision Industries verter go out on them? Did it sound bad? How could you test one once out?

I'm not driving the truck now. Actually gonna go buy a beater in the next couple days. Since the truck is my daily driver. Gonna get it in the garage and pull the tranny in the meantime in preperation for the new FLT coming. My worries are that I am going to get into it and not find anything wrong which could point to the TC or engine. I am also gonna pull the plugs and have a look but the way its running, no miss, I am certian it is at least hitting on all 8 cylinders.

Sorry for the long post. Venting somewhat... I am very DISTRESSED.

uummm, it could be the bellhosing bolts, my friends suburban had a noise underneath and check engine light, it was loose trans bellhousing bolts and the knock sensor was picking up the vibration, tightened the bolts and no problems, good luck. :twocents:

Ya had a flexplate go bad on me. Got a heavy duty flex plate for racing purposes and the noise came back down the road. Come to find out the converter was Tweaked so it applied forces on the flexplate and tranny it was not ment to have. Stupid converter ended up costing me a new flexplate then a new tranny.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(docone882000 &#064; Jan 18 2006, 01&#58;14 AM) [snapback]41344[/snapback]</div>

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Ya had a flexplate go bad on me. Got a heavy duty flex plate for racing purposes and the noise came back down the road. Come to find out the converter was Tweaked so it applied forces on the flexplate and tranny it was not ment to have. Stupid converter ended up costing me a new flexplate then a new tranny.
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what kind of verter was it, im going to get a 2600 stall and was wondereing if its nessesary to replace the stock flexplate(aka flywheel,right?) while im having my tranny built?if so what is a good one for the money?

You can get a good flywheel(flexplate) from summit or jegs. I actually think the price for the one we got was about the same as a stock unit. The one I got was from Jegs. The converter was a Torco. Needless to say never bought another from them. A couple hundred bucks ended up costing almost 2gs. I dont know if anyone has any luck with them but the one we got was junk. Oh and the tranny is behind a 427 big block and everyone knew that. The tranny builder sold his shop a little after he built ours. HMMMMM wonder why. So I ended up taking it to a friend that owns a tranny shop here In San Antonio and have not had a problem out of it since. And to top it off he put a 1yr warranty on it. Needless to say when it comes to a tranny I can be a little picky now.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tim Z &#064; Jan 19 2006, 10&#58;07 AM) [snapback]41491[/snapback]</div>

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what kind of verter was it, im going to get a 2600 stall and was wondereing if its nessesary to replace the stock flexplate(aka flywheel,right?) while im having my tranny built?if so what is a good one for the money?
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From what I have read. 02-04 GM flexplates are weak. I still do not know if the flexplate has given out on mine but with the tranny coming I went ahead and ordered a TCI Unit. About the only one I could readily find to fit my application. Ordered it from Summit Racing.

Good pick. Most of those units from summit and jegs are sfi approved also. Well if you are getting a good one and not just a stock replacement.

Got under the truck tonight and unbolted the flexplate from the torque converter. TC bolts were still good and tight, the flexplate tight to the crank and rings like a bell. Sure its not cracked. Anyway threw the starter back in and fired it up. No noise. Has to be the torque converter. Guess it could be the tranny but don&#39;t think so from the location of the sound. At least it isn&#39;t the engine. The verter is going back to PI for a fix.

Anyway Chuck at FLT called, the built tranny shipped yesterday. I at least see a finish line ahead.

awesome, let us know how you like that tranny, glad you figd out your noise. :cool:

Just for safety&#39;s sake, remove and inspect the flywheel when you change the transmission so as to verify 100% that there are no cracks in the center area particularly between bolt holes.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KySilverado &#064; Jan 27 2006, 07&#58;47 PM) [snapback]42491[/snapback]</div>

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Got under the truck tonight and unbolted the flexplate from the torque converter. TC bolts were still good and tight, the flexplate tight to the crank and rings like a bell. Sure its not cracked. Anyway threw the starter back in and fired it up. No noise. Has to be the torque converter. Guess it could be the tranny but don&#39;t think so from the location of the sound. At least it isn&#39;t the engine. The verter is going back to PI for a fix.

Anyway Chuck at FLT called, the built tranny shipped yesterday. I at least see a finish line ahead.
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My LT1 TA had a noise like that , it would come and go. It took us for ever to fig. out where it was coming from. I had a bran new conveter and tranny. The car pulled great. One day when I had it on the lift running, I heard the sound coming from the converter. I sold the car over 7mths ago to the guy next door. Still makes the noise and still runs great. O-well. Who now&#39;s?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RedHeartbeat &#064; Jan 27 2006, 10&#58;09 PM) [snapback]42495[/snapback]</div>

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Just for safety&#39;s sake, remove and inspect the flywheel when you change the transmission so as to verify 100% that there are no cracks in the center area particularly between bolt holes.
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New TCI flexplate in the garage going in. Much stronger unit.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tim Z &#064; Jan 27 2006, 09&#58;59 PM) [snapback]42494[/snapback]</div>

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awesome, let us know how you like that tranny, glad you figd out your noise. :cool:
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Thanks guy, I&#39;m stoked. I&#39;ll post up how the tranny works out.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KySilverado &#064; Jan 28 2006, 08&#58;03 AM) [snapback]42523[/snapback]</div>

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New TCI flexplate in the garage going in. Much stronger unit.
Thanks guy, I&#39;m stoked. I&#39;ll post up how the tranny works out.
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That is a good idea. Plus it gives you peace of mind with the extra power. :thumb:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BEATERTRUCK &#064; Jan 27 2006, 11&#58;27 PM) [snapback]42501[/snapback]</div>

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My LT1 TA had a noise like that , it would come and go. It took us for ever to fig. out where it was coming from. I had a bran new conveter and tranny. The car pulled great. One day when I had it on the lift running, I heard the sound coming from the converter. I sold the car over 7mths ago to the guy next door. Still makes the noise and still runs great. O-well. Who now&#39;s?
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Yeah it started off fairly mild. I could have seen me driving it like that for months. It got much worse though. Still drove fine, or at least for the last few miles it took me to get home after I started hearing it in the cab.

I had a 88 1 ton with a 454 and TH400. One day I started hearing Armageddon coming from underneath. Put the truck in the air and found the flywheel was cracked all the way around where it bolted to the crank, and the TC had 2 ears knocked off. In addition, some of the gear teeth ring were gone. I had to replace the TC, flywheel and front seal on the tranny, and put a new oil pump in for grins. Sometimes, you really cant see the cracks on the flywheel and its cheap enough to replace. I would also check the mounting tabs for the TC, they could have a crack as well. After replacing mine, problem was solved.

Haven&#39;t got the flexplate off yet but looking at it on the engine it is fine. No matter, putting on the TCI tomorrow.

http://users.adelphia.net/~rhundley/flexplate.jpg

Got the tranny out. Getting pretty good at it, this is the 3rd time I&#39;ve had it out. :cry: Getting to old for this. Did find the best way to manage the transfer case, to hell with jacks. Can you say grab the sucker and bench press it out&#33;

http://users.adelphia.net/~rhundley/tranny.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~rhundley/transfer.jpg

wow, a lot of work to do the change but this should be your last time, good luck, btw thats a nice garage floor, what type of flooring is it ( paint?)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tim Z &#064; Jan 28 2006, 09&#58;42 PM) [snapback]42574[/snapback]</div>

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wow, a lot of work to do the change but this should be your last time, good luck, btw thats a nice garage floor, what type of flooring is it ( paint?)
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Yes it is a lot of work. Hopefully the last time I do this for awhile. Floor is an Epoxy by Rust-Oleum. It is tough&#33;

Clicky

cool ,me likey&#33;&#33; got to get that, thanks for the link. :thumb:

what are your thoughts on using synthetic trans fluid in the tranny and trans case? is it worth it or is it too slippery for the trans? :duh:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tim Z &#064; Jan 28 2006, 10&#58;17 PM) [snapback]42577[/snapback]</div>

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cool ,me likey&#33;&#33; got to get that, thanks for the link. :thumb:

what are your thoughts on using synthetic trans fluid in the tranny and trans case? is it worth it or is it too slippery for the trans? :duh:
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No problem on the link. everytime I post a pic of my garage floor someone asks about the floor.

I&#39;m going with straight Dexron III tranny fluid. GM uses a synthetic in the transfer case. Called "AutoTrak" fluid and that&#39;s what I&#39;ve used to top the transfer case off after the installs. I think synthetics are great for diffs, transfer cases, and the engine. Not so good for the clutchs in trannies.