She runs, but now she won't move.....

[shak]

Some of you may remember that I was swapping in a 5.8. After a few nights of frustration, it finally went in. Got my long tubes bolted on and new PMGR starter bolted in, (Thanks Ryan!!!), hooked up all the coolant lines, plumbed in the AC condenser for my tranny cooler (did have it flushed),topped off all the fluids and fired it up. It came to life with a huge rumble (no exhaust except the headers)!! Sounds awesome. After letting things warm up for a bit, tried dropping her in gear--NOTHING, not even a lurch!!! AARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!! Checked fluids, tranny fluid a little low but was showing on the stick--should have at least moved..Nada. Tried blowing out condenser-no blockages, no line were leaking, Had fluid at all line ends-so it was flowing. Disconnected the feed line and started her up, hoping to see fluid spurting like a severed artery and nothing. Drained the pan (had a drain plug welded in and installed a magnet). Fluid looked fresh. Bottom of pan had streaks of thick drk gray sludge and the magnet was coated with a thick layer of the same drk gray sludge/paste. Does this sound like the tranny is completely toast or can this possibly be saved??

PS for the record, it is an AOD.

[shak]

Wow--37 people so far have read this and not one posted opinion good or bad? Do my words stink or something? Am I not one of the chosen few worthy of replies? Hello--anybody??

[sackman9975]

OK. New engine install, did tranny work fine before the engine swap?

Upon installation, did you make sure the torque converter was fully seated into the trans? If it wasn't, then your pump wouldn't pump. This can be checked by removing a tranny line at the radiator, have someone fire it up, and ready to shut it down, because your gonna know instantly if its pumping.

Are you sure your transfer case didn't pop into neutral?

[paintballdude902]

ebrake? sounds simple but hey theres alot of people that might not notice something like that

[Ditch Baby]

dumb question... but is the tcase in neutral?

[rla2005]

If I read this right you converted the A/C condenser to a transmission cooler? You stated you flushed it, but with what kind of flushing agent? Dark gray sludge could be left over corrosion (oxide) from the condenser or with all the new fluid cleaning out the system it could be old clutch material. As noted by Sackman you should have a huge stream of fluid coming out when you disconnect the return line.

I had a similar issue years ago when I had a C6 rebuilt. I did not get the trans. cooler and lines completely flushed out. The new transmission fluid acted like a cleaner, loosened all the old gunk and promptly dumped it inside the newly rebuilt transmission. Truck felt like it was stuck in 2nd and 3rd at the same time. I burned up the new transmission in 3 miles of driving back home. Smoke was rolling out of every nook and cranny of that shiny new transmission.

[KC200787]

Heh...you did take some care when you mated the engine and transmission right? If you where to ruff, you may have broke the end off the pump of in the trans, which = no fluid...

KC

[XXLBRONCO]

did you forget to bolt the torque up? or seat the torque in its place?rear driveshaft in? I just had to say this one!! Good luck

[shak]

Well, Thanks for the replies. I have the electronic BW 1356, I don't know how it could pop into neutral--I thought of that and was quickly let down when I remembered that... TC was bolted. Could have been rough with install--was def frustrated enough by that time. I think what happened--after researching after the fact- is that the flexplate on the back of the motor is from a c6. as I read that 5.8's were never bolted to an AOD (as per adrianspeer's tranny t-case thread) Apparently, there is an offset difference in the flexplates between a c6 and an AOD. This difference causes the TC to be pushed to hard back onto the shaft, binding the pump causing failure.. Because, no, I did not have fluid spurting out of the line like it should have...So, now I have a c6 out of an 3/4ton that had a 5.8. Just need to hunt up the right linkage and drop her in......(I hope):)