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PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:46 pm 
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TBI Slant 6

Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2020 11:40 am
Posts: 117
Location: Owasso OK
Car Model: SDRA Dragster
This is a 9" racing torque converter from a well-known and common torque converter company, supposedly build for a racing slant six and 904 trans. It has been leaking for years. A catch pan was fabricated to catch the leaking trans fluid because of years of not being able to determine the source of the leak. So many rebuilds, so many front pump seals, different trans housing, pumps, front drums, more pumps, porting of the return passage, you name it, we have done it trying to stop this leak.

We guessed the converter was being pushed into the seal, so we started down that path of thinking. That lead to placing the torque converter onto the flex plate with the engine out of the car. The converter did not slide up to the flex plate. We tried a bone stock converter, and it slid into the crankshaft counterbore until the ears contacted the flex plate. Something was up!

This led to placing the torque converter on the fabrication table next to two other converters (stock Chrysler and a racing Hughes) to start measuring the pilot. While setting there, fluid oozed out a microscopic hole in the pilot weld. At first, I thought it was residual fluid from all the messing around, so I wiped it off good. A few minutes later, this!

So this high dollar racing torque converter has two issues. One, it leaks, two, the pilot is so wrong for a slant six crank. The pilot weld contacts the end of the crank before the bolt lugs come in contact with the flex plate. About a 1/8 gap between the flex plate and the bolt bosses.

Question: Would this be the correct pilot set-up for a V8? I'm guessing not since the V8 takes the same flex plate.


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TCI Torque Converter 2.jpg
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 4:21 pm 
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Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2002 11:08 am
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Location: Blacksburg, VA
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Nuts, that is a bummer.

V8s have same pilot as 68-up Slant cranks.

I talked to Hughes on the phone once. I decided not to order anything from them.

Lou

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 7:44 pm 
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Supercharged
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Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:00 pm
Posts: 2798
Location: kankakee IL
Car Model: 80 volare, 78 fury 2 dr, 85 D150
Question..... The name Hughes comes up alot. Hughes, the trans/converter company, isn't the same Hughes as "Hughes engines", is it? I've been to Hughes Engines, and talked to them on the phone. I got mixed thoughts about that company between the contacts I have had with them......


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 10:19 pm 
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Joined: Thu Oct 17, 2002 7:27 pm
Posts: 14119
Location: Park Forest, Illinoisy
Car Model: 68 Valiant
Hughes Trans and Converter specialize in Powerglides. They are a different business then Hughes Engines.

OP, what crank is in your motor? The 67 and older have a smaller pocket than 68 and up.

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 2:30 am 
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TBI Slant 6

Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2020 11:40 am
Posts: 117
Location: Owasso OK
Car Model: SDRA Dragster
Not sure of the year of the crank, but am sure it’s a 68+. We measured several cranks both forged and the newer cast and all counter bores were the same.

Correct: Hughes converter is not the same company as Hughes Engines. The latter was much more pleasant on the phone.

There are now two converter companies that I will not buy from. That said, at least the Hughes doesn’t leak. It was not ideal for the application. We were told it was and charged for a custom build, but it was a $500 shelf unit. It has the 5/16 bolts and a pretty low stall for a slant six. When we called them about it not being what we ordered they told us to pound sand. It was in the #43 for all of 2020, so it is a working non leaking correctly fit torque converter that won a National Championship.

Now, the BTE that is in the #43 now, WOW! This one has some stall and pulls hard. Also locks up better on the top end.

So for now the #42 will get the Hughes converter so he can race it until he can get a new one.


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 11:15 am 
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Supercharged
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Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2004 8:03 pm
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Location: IRWIN PA
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Thanks For Sharing Jeff


If that converter pilot wasn't wrong, I would Just weld the Hole shut.

Good to know about BTE. I have never heard of them.
I do want to get an edge or Maybe BTE Converter for ruster someday.

Greg

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 5:26 pm 
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Joined: Thu Oct 17, 2002 7:27 pm
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Location: Park Forest, Illinoisy
Car Model: 68 Valiant
BTE is mainly Powerglide stuff too.

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 7:41 am 
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TBI Slant 6

Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2020 11:40 am
Posts: 117
Location: Owasso OK
Car Model: SDRA Dragster
Who isn’t mainly power glide?


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 11:26 am 
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Supercharged
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Location: IRWIN PA
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A&A transmission. But I am not sure they build converters.

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 11:54 am 
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Joined: Sat Oct 19, 2002 12:06 pm
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Location: Silver Springs, Fl.
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I have had excellent results with Edge Racing Converters. Don't hold it against them that they also do"glides".

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 2:37 pm 
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Joined: Thu Oct 17, 2002 7:27 pm
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Location: Park Forest, Illinoisy
Car Model: 68 Valiant
Some companies build Glide converters and dabble in everything else.

Can't blame them. Glide is the most popular trans going.

I used Coan last time I had one built. I also have Midwest, TCI, and my ATI that was rebuilt by PTC. I can't complain about any of them. Hell, I even had a GER in my Buick that worked. (Probably the only good one they built)

If the one you have works as you want, spot weld the hole and machine the hub down a bit and be good to go.

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 2:05 pm 
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TBI Slant 6

Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2020 11:40 am
Posts: 117
Location: Owasso OK
Car Model: SDRA Dragster
The decision was made to buy new like the one I have. It's a little higher stall and locks better at the top end. We may still try to repair and machine the old one for a back-up since we have two cars almost identical.

Believe it or not, two years ago we sent the suspect converter to Midwest for "rebuild" and to loosen it up. They said it was way off balance from the OEM, but nothing about the pilot or leak. They re-balanced it, but there was no noticeable difference in performance or vibration.


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