how to detect a worn converter ?

[lilredridinghoo]

tried the forums search - but didn´t really find an answer....

how to detect a worn torque converter ?

i´m asking cause of my daily drive 1970 valiant 318 stock engine with TF904 trans.

maybe i´m a little bit neurotic, but the car does not downshift and accelerate as before - if i push the pedal at 55 mph nothing, at 50 mph sometimes if shifts down, at 40 or 35 mph it shifts but if feels not powerful


first thing i checked was the kickdown-linkage - but everything is fine with it.

so i thought about the converter or cld it be somewhat else... how to check a converter for proper function ?

cld. it caused by a cloged air-filter (indeed it is very polluted, and should be replaced)
also i´d changed the point-breaker-style distr. thing to a pertronix-modul (but didn´t have the chance to check the timing since)

i also have serious vibrations i cld. not really locate for more than a year... there noticable when the car rolls along the streets in the city at 30 mph (1400rpm or so) and no force on the pedal, only when its slightly touched. if i rev up only 100 rpm its over and will be come back 2600 rpm on the highway. i can feel them in the steering wheel and on my butt sitting on the bench.

 

[fishy68]

A torque converter is a fluid coupled device therefore it doesn't normally wear like other devices. It sounds to me like your engine needs a good tune-up. Your description of the air cleaner alone suggests it could be a major contributor to lack of acceleration. Worn points can also greatly affect power output. That's where I'd start looking first.

What all have you done/checked to find/resolve the vibration problem? Vibrations can tear stuff up so it should be fixed soon.

 

[lilredridinghoo]

A torque converter is a fluid coupled device therefore it doesn't normally wear like other devices. It sounds to me like your engine needs a good tune-up. Your description of the air cleaner alone suggests it could be a major contributor to lack of acceleration. Worn points can also greatly affect power output. That's where I'd start looking first.

What all have you done/checked to find/resolve the vibration problem? Vibrations can tear stuff up so it should be fixed soon.

thanx for your answer fishy68 - conc. the vibrations. i´ve replaced motormounts, transmission mount and both u-joints on the driveshaft

 

[fishy68]

No problem Timo. If I were you I'd have the driveshaft checked for balance. It's surprising how many are not in balance. A buddy of mine has a challenger and had a vibration like what you described and it was the driveshaft had thrown the balance weight off. Also don't overlook the tires. Any one of them can cause a vibration. Good luck.

 

[1968FormulaS340]

Check for belt separation on your tires. This is something often overlooked and has been the cause of vibration for several members in the past.

 

[lilredridinghoo]

thanx for your support and answers, just changed the tires/rims combo today, cause of snow awaited for this weekend. the vibrations still remain, so i can exclude these.