major problem, tranny done-for... questions about how to keep my converter?

39k... guess thats all she wanted to last my bad :o :(

the vigilante only has 5k on it

financially as it sits im already struggling to get my car back on its feet for the tranny rebuild.

tech is positive the sun gear shell (thats what its called right?) busted on me. it wasn't slipping at all (asside from what it was suppose to with the stall converter, the shifts themselves were quick and firm) before the massive "clunk" at 4k rpm then it did start slipping shifts from the sounds of it, its only shifting 1-3 but thats not positive

anyway... im already having the tranny rebuilt so we're all good there.

my question is... i REEEEEALLY want to keep my converter... and i know when a tranny goes the converter usually has to go with it..

my mechanic told me as long as no metal chunks got in to **** it up for the very short period i drove it after it happened, he should be able to just flush it out and it will be good for re-use.

this true?

any input or other things i should be aware of?

many thanks!


Jared :)

the reason ur not supposed to re-use the converter is because it hold about 4 quarts of fluid that may be contaminated
usually its chunks of clutch material that contaminated the fluid and you cant get the fluid out of a converter so the chunks of clutch material end up clogging up a freshly rebuilt tranny

now if metal chunks blew from the sun gear shell, it deoends on how big they are, if they are small enough to get into the torque converter, then u need a new one, because u cant tell if there are any pieces in there or not, if the chunks are too big to get in the converter than i would say go ahead and reuse the old converter

but like i said, keep an eye out for the possibility of contaminated fluid

I would try and call the company that built the converter first. When I bought my EDGE 3400 I had 1 free restall, If I'm not mistaken that requires the converter to be opened up. If they can do that I don't see why they can't clean it out and inspect it for damaged parts. I think that would cost much less than a new converter and still give you a piece of mind that the converter won't take out your new tanny if it were contaminated.

if you get one free restall then dont take any risks and just get it restalled

when they cut it open they will drain the fluid and clean out the converter