Help diagnose engine ticking sound - Rebuilt 351W with 4R70W

[SLOWnEASY]

Or just skip the loosening and tightening test and go straight to the spray paint.

 

[davisjstone]

If it was mine I would crawl under and loosen all torque converter bolts. Loosen them all until only about one thread is still holding them on. Then try to push the torque converter back away from the flex plate. If you can push the torque converter back you're probably good. It means you're not putting pressure on the front pump of the transmission.
Now tighten all the bolts back up. Spray each bolt liberally with black spray paint and let it dry. Then go reproduce the tick. If the bolts are causing the tick you will see some shiny marks on the heads.

Will do. Great idea with the paint/scratch test!

 

[73azbronco]

great paint idea.

 

[davisjstone]

Update: Haven't had much time lately. Upon further inspection I found that 1 of the 4 the TQ nuts was missing, so hoping that was the cause of the noise. Ordered some new nuts and planned to install them today. I've been doing research and wanted to verify that when fully seated/pushed back, there was some room between the TQ and the flexplate. I believe I have the correct flexplate based on much research (FRA-205) for my 351w.

My method: Pushed the TQ all the way in and measured the amount of stud protruding through flexplate. Then tightened the nuts down snug (more than hand tight) but not all the way torqued, thus pulling the TQ into the flexplate. I then removed a nut and measured the amount of stud through the flexplate. Repeated this two times and got the same measurement.

I have 1/4 inch pag/space from when TQ is all the way against the pump to when its against the flexplate. Research says it should be 1/8 to 3/16.

Is my 1/4 too far out of tolerance or good enough? I really don't want to pull the trans to put in some washers. Also don't want to damage a rebuilt trans.

 

[ba123]

Nobody can say what it “should” be. It’s all based on how long the studs are and how thick your flex plate is.

 

[davisjstone]

Nobody can say what it “should” be. It’s all based on how long the studs are and how thick your flex plate is.

So am I overthinking this (as I tend to do hah)?

 

[ba123]

Yes. Tighten it up and be done with it. You can put some loctite if you know you tightened them last time and they got loose.

 

[SLOWnEASY]

Agree with ba123 it sounds good to me, and just tighten it up.