I've spent hours going through as much info as I could about bolting up the tranny to an engine, but I have a question that I just can't seem to find a good answer for.

I've got my engine and tranny butted up against each other, and the flexplate holes are not lining up with the bolt holes on the torque converter. My torque converter doesn't want to seem to turn though...its not seated all the way, is it? If it was, it would spin, yea? So lets say that I get that part fixed, can I turn the t.c. through the t.c. drain plug opening in the tranny? Is there any other way to possibly get the two to line up?

When I turn the crankshaft with my 27 mm, the t.c. turns along with the flexplate and I can't get the two to line up by doing that. Another thing is I am wondering if the t.c. should turn when I turn the crankshaft? Because right now it does.

Please help! I'm trying to get this done asap because its starting to get pretty cold here in Indiana.

Any true help is welcomed! Suggestions and everything. I might end up just bolting the tranny to the engine and pulling the TWO out then taking the tranny off outside of the car and lining up the flexplate and torque converter bolts with some studs that will go through the flexplate holes lined up in the little access panel so that I'll only have to fit the two in and not have to worry about lining everything up.

I'd rather to do in an easier way though than taking it ALL out. I guess knowing whether or not the t.c. spins freely when seated properly will help me a lot in getting the two lined up.

I am officially in love with MANUAL transmissions!! They're just not as...tedious...

Thanks.

Pry the engine and tranny apart about a half inch, set the TC and flexplate so a couple of adjacent holes align with the access port at the bottom of the engine, then use attachment bolts to slowly pull the tranny into place.

I don't know if it's the right way to do it but that's how I do it.

Sixto
87 300D

i have never had an MB transmission out so this is just a guess based on experience with other automatics.It is just possible that the TC is not fully seated into the pump.You should be able to loosen all the bell housing bolts while supporting the trans slide it back a bit, that will allow you to rotate the TC but dont just line up the bolt holes.First rotate it around and if you can wiggle it back & forth and see if will engage the pump and move just a little closer to the trans then line up your bolt holes and tighten the trans in as evenly as you can. My $.02 Don

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Red Green "This is only temporary,Unless it works!"

97 E300D 157000 miles
87 300TD ?141k? miles

I have done many transmissions in my time. I have found basically two things relating to this. First, the transmission should be able to be pushed at least halfway on the alignment dowels (at the back of the block) by hand. If not, then check for something holding it up like a wire, rust on the dowels, converter not in, etc. Second, once the bellhousing bolts are tight, the converter should rotate by hand in order for it to be lined up and bolted. If it can't rotate, there could be rust or trash on the converter hub or the converter itsself isn't in all the way, as you are describing. Always lightly grease the converter hub so it can easily slip in and out of the crank. Like oldiesel said, loosen the bolts and pry the trans out a little and see if you can coax the converter in a little more.

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1984 300D, 246k, veggie, sold
1982 300SD 301k

turn crank untill you see the tc drain. wedge the hex key in the drain and turn the crank again till they align up.

Matt

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83 300d euro
85 944

Wow, everyone is being very helpful! I sincerely appreciate honest answers and people not criticizing me!

It sounds as if I probably won't have to pull the engine out (again...) but who knows. The allen key in the drain plug sounds like a way to keep the t.c. steady, as I have been having trouble doing that. I'm almost positive the t.c. is fully engaged into the tranny, because when I installed the t.c. I made EXTRA sure to spin it around and basically engage everything...but maybe I just missed something. But I sure as hell double checked it and it seemed totally "locked" in before I dropped the engine in.

The engine slid PERFECTLY onto the tranny nipple dowels and basically butted right up against the tranny with no bolts! It was a perfect join between the two. I know the t.c. is where it should be just by looking at the drain plug on the t.c. through the little window. Its basically where it was during uninstallation....but that's obviously not a surefire way to say its where it should be either.

I'm going to pull the two apart while trying my best not to have to move the engine off the mounts. Help is hard to come by during the day, especially help that is willing to get pretty dirty for beer alone. See if I can't fix the alignment issue for good. If I have to pull the engine, I'm pretty sure I'm going to go ahead and pull the tranny with the engine. At least I'll be able to get it straight outside the car, and replace a gasket and filter somewhat easier. Its just the installation of that big "unit" I'm afraid of. Its real heavy and I'm just wondering how I would get the tranny pointing down in the rear and guiding it in there...its not really inviting at all.
I'll try and do what I can, unfortunately its raining today and the project is outside, so I have to wait until tomorrow. I really hate waiting when I'm so close to having this done...

Thanks for suggestions and help! I really do appreciate it.

If it went that far on then the converter is probably in all the way after all. I like the idea of holding the converter with the drain plug, should work fine. There can be the tiniest piece of grit on the converter snub and it can bind a converter so by rotating the crank and holding the converter it might just work itsself free. Try spraying some WD-40 or the like up there. Anything to not have to pull it again.

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1984 300D, 246k, veggie, sold
1982 300SD 301k

Before having been out to finally find out what the problem is I may have overlooked the fact that the t.c. retainer plug in the tranny bell housing is *possibly* holding my t.c. tight enough to prevent me from turning it but not holding my t.c. from turning with the engine. So I'm probably going to have to find a way to put more pressure into turning the torque converter alone and with the drain plug I think I will have a better chance. I seriously have not questioned my success in getting the torque converter completely sealed onto the spline shafts and into the holding ring. And I will check if I ever question myself on something. I would even pull the engine again just to make sure it gets in all the way.

I'm not using a load leveler on my cherry picker so its a bit difficult to get everything straightened out and getting the engine and tranny to join together.

I luckily could not have asked for an easier time in getting the two together considering I only use 2 of the chain mounts on the engine instead of the 3 provided to basically keep the engine level! I think I misplaced a chain and I'm not next door to the city so I make due with what I have at the moment.

Thanks again.