I know I am missing something, I just did a R&R on my 95 T/A with a D1SC powered 383 and just do not understand how the 3 studs that hold the torque converter to the fly transfer all of the power to the tranny to the rear wheels??? I am not a mechanic, but I have enough mechanical knowledge to get by!! This is mind boggling to me, please explain!!

 

Compare the three studs being about 6" or so away from centerline as compared to three studs being 1" away from centerline then consider what how leverage works.

The studs 1" away from CL will be worked much harder than the ones 6" away to keeep things secure.

The further away the attach point is fron centerline, the less robust it needs to be.

Another way of saying it. Chuck a pencil up in a drill press and turn it on. Try to slow the RPMs down by grasping the pencil. Now try to slow the revs down by grasping the chuck itself using the same anount of grip. Same concept with the bolts on the TC.

Just simply leverage and physics. BTW loctite the three TC bolts.

 

I guess I understand the concept, but it still amazes me that those 3 bolts can transfer 600+HP to the tranny!! Just thinking out loud on things that make me go HMMMMM???

 

They do break and then you go to a 6 bolt setup...haha

 

plenty of people with well over 1,000 h.p. using 3 bolts.

 

It has more to do with the shock, or lack of that the bolts are seeing. An automatic transmission "eases" the load onto the drivetrain so the shear force on the bolts is much much less that it is on a straight drive car. Same reason why 6 speeds break rear ends much easier than automatics. I am no bolt expert but you would be very surprised by how strong some bolts can be especially if there are put in the right places. Engineers are pretty smart people, especially the ones that work for worldwide, multi-billion dollar companies like GM.