For the past hour I've been looking around at what fluid I need for my AW4. I've ended up 50/50 with dexIII and ATF+4. I recently filled my trans with ATF +4 after a rebuilt Motor install. I have almost exactly 1000 miles on the new motor and I am assuming the flywheel is loose at the crank. (Because I tightened the TC side) because there is a clunking noise at initial turn over and shut off. And a random smaller clunk at idle, in park. There aren't any clunks with a load on it I.e, while driving, stopped in gear, or moving from a stop. Questioning the fluid comes from wondering if that could be my issue, and not the flywheel? I'm just going through options and thoughts before I drop my trans to tighten my flywheel (with loctite this time) Thanks for the input.

ONLY Dex/Merc fluid.

Did you use LocTite on the four bolts from torque converter to flexplate?

Thanks, and no, that's my plan. I could not get a torque wrench in there at the time either, but I'll loctite them this time. I went torque spec on the crank side, but apparently they still need loctite too.

Do you think it's flywheel then? Could the wrong fluid make such a noise?

Don't need a torque wrench. About a 9" long 15mm box end wrench. How did you keep the engine from rotating while tightening the bolts?

See if they're loose and go from there. I doubt the fluid is causing the noise.

I had a 15mm socket on the "upper" bolt and held it from spinning with a box 15mm on the "lower" bolt. Just kept rotating around. Kinda hard because the rotation defeats the whole purpose. i got them pretty tight, just didn't loctite them. I wish I could fit my flywheel wrench in there.

se a 3/4 socket on the crank in front with a long breaker bar. Hold the crank from moving with my leg against the bar while tightening the bolts.

10-4. Loctite suggestions?

No need to go overboard. They have so many different ones now. Just medium strength.

Check the flex plate for cracks.

indeed. I have that in mind too. Luckily I have an extra from the block I bought for the rebuild.

Might as well reply to tell that my issue was fixed. I took out the flywheel and reinstalled with loctite. 1000 miles so far with no rattle.

2000 trans fluid/flywheel cunundrum
 

I'm going to bring this thread back up for the trans fluid. I posted another thread about my lifter collapsing at 3000 miles on a brand new motor. But at the time the lifter collapsed, I was having the trans slip on me going 60-65 mph.

May I ask why Dex/merc? I threw a code for a speed sensor when it slipped and want to be sure my fluid isn't causing the slippage. At the stop light. I was putting from the lifter failure, but I re read the codes and the speed sensor code went away.

All hell broke loose last weekend. And now I'm fixin to replace lifters- already. While I'm at it I was going to put a new speed sensor on the trans.

Because these transmissions have hydraulic issues when the wrong spec fluid is used.

2000 trans fluid/flywheel cunundrum
 

The only reason I ask, is because 2k miles after changing from atf+4 to Dex merc. It slips. Canyon driving 60-65 with stretches of 8% grade.

Driving Utah canyons on stock gears and 33"s? Do you have an auxillary cooler?