Author Topic: Torque converter balooning, can you feel it happining?  (Read 1192 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

sideoilercat

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 38
    • View Profile
Torque converter balooning, can you feel it happining?
« on: June 02, 2020, 08:56:04 PM »
I know about the damage, but can you notice a power loss or binding sensation and does it return to normal shape after?
Thanks.
JK.
67 Cougar GT 427 M riser side oiler "ALLEY KAT"
70 Cyclone GT 429 CJ
82 Merc Capri 5.0 bought new

57 lima bean

  • Guest
Re: Torque converter balooning, can you feel it happining?
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2020, 11:54:37 PM »
                     No

sideoilercat

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 38
    • View Profile
Re: Torque converter balooning, can you feel it happining?
« Reply #2 on: June 03, 2020, 09:26:27 PM »
Thanks
67 Cougar GT 427 M riser side oiler "ALLEY KAT"
70 Cyclone GT 429 CJ
82 Merc Capri 5.0 bought new

drdano

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 537
    • View Profile
Re: Torque converter balooning, can you feel it happining?
« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2020, 10:16:04 PM »
A friend who had one balloon in his OT-455 powered lead sled said the motor started running real funny after a big burnout, power loss and then finding debris in the oil.  He knew something was up immediately, but didn't figure out the ballooning part until the motor was all pulled apart and they went looking for why the thrust surfaces were all wiped out.

Falcon67

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2151
    • View Profile
    • Kelly's Hot Rod Page
Re: Torque converter balooning, can you feel it happining?
« Reply #4 on: June 04, 2020, 08:12:10 AM »
That would be my concern - thrust bearing damage.  And that might not show up for a while, depending.  I had a race motor lose the thrust bearing and ate a 0.100 groove in the crank, car ran the number every pass until one pass where it laid down like someone grabbed the back  bumper.  Pulled the motor down, it had over .120 of crank end play (started at .008) but what shut it down with the counterweights rubbing the main webs when trans internal pressure moved the converter/crank assembly forward and took up the slack in the engine.  Had the converter looked at, it was undamaged and not ballooned, so the whole thing was likely some initial damage on the thrust surface that happened during extensive crank re-work before assembly.  Took two race seasons for the problem to show up. 

fekbmax

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1455
    • View Profile
Re: Torque converter balooning, can you feel it happining?
« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2020, 10:03:26 AM »
A badly ballooned converter normally will take the converter snout out of true and wipe out the front pump seal at best or the whole pump at worst. 
Keith.  KB MAX Racing.