I'm doing my 1st transmission swap on a 2000 xj. I thought all was going good until I tried bolting up the torque converter. I got the new transmission in and bolted to the engine. I also got all the wires, breather hose,cross member and cooling lines on. Then I realized I forgot to put the 4 bolts to the tc. I did think it was a big deal because the tc should spin free and I can spin the motor. I was wrong. Neither the crank or tc will budge. I'm thinking I didn't get the tc seated all the way before bolting the bell housing to the motor. So do I need to take everything back apart and start over? Or can I just loosen the bell housing bolts and slide it back enough to spin the tc till it seats? Did I damage anything because it wasn't seated? Like the pump? How do I know if the pump is damaged? When I got the transmission there was a strap holding the tc on. So I thought it was already seated. I guess I should have did a better job checking before I installed it.

 

In neutral the Trans will spin... reach behind the flex plate with your fingers and spin it till it lines up. Use a nail to line up the holes. Or a small screwdriver. Locktite them. DON'T USE RED.

 

I got it. I was right the tc wasn't seated all the was. It was tight against the fly wheel so it wouldn't spin. I got lucky. I removed the bell housing bolt and slid it out about 6" just enough to get my hands on the tc. Gave it a wiggle and it dropped in. New problem. I filled it up with fluid and started it. After warming up i checked the fluid. It was high but i thought I should go threw the gears 1st then check it again. The Jeep is on stands without the drive shafts. So i looked at the transfer case while it was in drive. Its not spinning. Will to much fluid prevent it from going into gear?

 

The front or the back of the TC? The front only spins via the Trans if in 4WD. It spins when the drives haft is connected to the front axle because the tires are spinning. In drive, the rear of the TC should be spinning but should have a slip yolk in it that might come out if you took the drives haft off of that joint. I don't think it's too safe to run it if just the yolk is in place. Please don't. Check with others at least first. If it wiggles out it could become a projectile.

 

Really, just replace the drive shafts, run it, get back to us.

 

Doublecheck the tc. You can do this without the driveshafts. 2wd = front should spin freely. Rear should be locked to the transmission. 4hi = front and rear are locked together. N = front and rear should spin freely. 4lo = front and rear are locked together.

 

Problem solved.I thought about it on my way to work this morning. I had the torque converter in neutral. The linkage is still off that to. I got new linkage from Boostwerks. It seems pretty sweet. I put it on tonight. its just a single rod from the shifter to the tc. it seams to work. Hopefuly Ill know better tomorrow after i get the drive shafts on. Thought since i had to pull the drive shafts off to swap the tranny i would replace u joints. The front drive shaft has a double cardan. Theres a rubber boot that covers the center ball. Mine was shot. I had a hard time finding one. It came today. Now all I have to do is get the u bolt strap bolt that I broke out. Put the Drive shafts in and Ill be ready to go.

 

The yoke was not in place. I was looking at the spline shaft that the yoke would slip on.

 

Could of damaged front pump. Id pull it back out.

 

I flushed it by filling it with fluid and pulling the return line. If I damaged the front pump I would know?

 

Have you drove it yet ?

 

Got it all back together last night and took it for a test drive. No problems.