To recap the story thus far, I got an 81 300SD with a transmission condition. The engine starts, but the flex plate is shredded. All 6 torque converter bolts sheared off. Main shaft has 1/4" of axial play and considerable radial play

Many thanks for all the diagnostic help.

What I noticed when comparing the old transmission with the replacement is that there are no dowels or guiding pins in the old transmission. They aren't on the block either. So the transmission was located on the block by the bolts in the bolt holes which probably allowed several mm of radial misalignment. If it were misaligned enough to cause flex plate fatigue, wouldn't there have been noticeable vibration?

The replacement transmission goes in over the next few days. I hope there are no more surprises.

Sixto
91 300SE
81 300SD

Sixto:

Probably lots of vibration, at least until the flex plate bolts sheared! Probably didn't take long, either. I wonder how they got the flex plate bolts in?

Sounds like the whole tranny was jumping and dancing, too -- with that much play, someone either left out some parts or didn't bother to set the bearing cleanances -- no plastic bushings in these, unlike a GM turbo 350.

I suspect the replacement will work somewhat better!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!