Alright im trying to figure out why my thrust bearings are destroyed.

I read this http://www.atra.com/crankshaft/

I think my problem may have been caused by my converter, but i need some advice. I checked for line restrictions and couldn't find any. I think i might have got a deffective torque converter. My old engine was in spec for end play and nothing else had been changed when this new engine got installed other than the new torque converter. So since nothing else changed it leads me to belive that the engine wasn't assembled properly or the torque converter. But im leaning more towards the converter for one reason. The side of the thrust bearing closest to the converter was worn about half the size of the other side. On top of that the side that was most worn was completly black from heat. That would lead me to belive that it would have to have something pushing against the thrust surface all the time. The torque converter would be the only thing i could think that would cause that.

My question is what's the chance a brand new converter could be deffective and would this destroy the thrust surface. Also is there any other drivetrain/t ransmission problems that could destroy the thrust other than the converter? Also would a aftermarket converter have less of a chance of ballooning compared to a stock converter?

Any assitance would be appreciated

Thanks

 

The only suggestion I have is that your torque converter to flywheel spacing may have been out of tolerance. Did you do the install yourself so you could have verified that?

Guess I've been out of the loop, but what are the specs on the new engine? Did you have it built? Maybe a few other folks will chime in since there's been other instances of thrust bearing failure.

 

I did the converter install myself. It probably had 1/2" or so between the flywheel and converter. It was far enough back that when i installed the new engine i had to pull the converter forward with my fingers so i could get the bolts to thread in. With the converter all the way back the bolts wouldn't even touch the converter. I was told by a few local people that that was fine and not to worry about it.

The originall engine was built locally and the thrust and main bearings where dead after 6k. The wear on the thrust looks like the crank was constantly being pushed against the thrust surface. The same engine is going back in but with new bearings and the crank is being welded from the thrust failure . Its a SBC not a GEN-3. Do you think the excessive converter clearince is what killed it?

Thanks.

 

1/2" really? I've never heard of that much play between the two. 3/16" is the max. This is where the washers come into play, so you can shim it to the correct gap. I would think if you had that much of a gap after the install, you'd be spitting tranny fluid everywhere.

Ah, it's a SBC...I still suspect the same. Do you have a Haynes or Chilton manual to reference? They should give the the flywheel to converer tolerence.

 

well its beyond the max clearance. I don't see how that could lead to a thrust problem though. Any insight on this? Anyone??

 

Holy cow, I've heard of this before. A couple of years ago my pop had a rash of engines ($10-$15,000 race engines) go out of his shop and come back with the thrust bearings wiped out. (He's very meticulous and has very few comebacks). After a bunch of head scratching and research and talking to other engine builders (who had the same problem) they put 2 & 2 together and all of those customers were using the same brand of torque converter (can't remember which one, don't even know if they're in business anymore). Turns out something was defective in the converters...

 

Well hopefully it was just the converter that did it. It is really hard if not impossible to try and track down the cause and the only thing i changed with this engine is the converter. The old engine had no thrust problems so i would think it would have to be the converter or engine build. Anyways there is no way for me to know if it was the converter or not unless i sent it in for inspection which isn't worth it on a stock converter.

 

any other thoughts... Anyone?