Gary Lewis Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Good news, Rusty passed the state inspection. Bad news, I have another I repeat another cracked flexplate!! Rusty sounded like a dang rattlesnake once I pulled in for the inspection. There is something wrong internally either with the crank or the transmission. The transmission shop said all the run out measurements were within spec, so what the heck!!!! I'm at my wits end with this thing. No!!!!!! Say it isn’t so!!! I’m so sorry. My wife just said “Did you sell him a faulty truck?” I told her I didn’t think so at the time, but..... Would you consider changing to a manual tranny? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClayJ Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 No!!!!!! Say it isn’t so!!! I’m so sorry. My wife just said “Did you sell him a faulty truck?” I told her I didn’t think so at the time, but..... Would you consider changing to a manual tranny? I'm afraid so. I would go to a manual transmission if it meant it didn't break every 100 miles. Just not sure what to do at the moment without a definitive cause of the flexplate continually breaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 I'm afraid so. I would go to a manual transmission if it meant it didn't break every 100 miles. Just not sure what to do at the moment without a definitive cause of the flexplate continually breaking. I have the NP435 that came out of that truck, and I do believe I have the bell housing. But I don't think I have a flywheel nor clutch. And I'm pretty sure I don't have the clutch linkage, which is mechanical and hard to find. It could be done. Collectively we could surely scrounge up the parts. But it'll be a fair amount of work. And it just seems like there has to be something very obvious that's being missed. Your pretty sure this flex plate is gone? If so, I'd talk to the tranny shop and see what they say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 I'm afraid so. I would go to a manual transmission if it meant it didn't break every 100 miles. Just not sure what to do at the moment without a definitive cause of the flexplate continually breaking. I'm not sure what to think either:nabble_anim_confused: Two shops, three flexplates..... And the last place checked everything is in spec, replaced the converter and balancer. Your FIL shop didn't see anything wrong either... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClayJ Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 I have the NP435 that came out of that truck, and I do believe I have the bell housing. But I don't think I have a flywheel nor clutch. And I'm pretty sure I don't have the clutch linkage, which is mechanical and hard to find. It could be done. Collectively we could surely scrounge up the parts. But it'll be a fair amount of work. And it just seems like there has to be something very obvious that's being missed. Your pretty sure this flex plate is gone? If so, I'd talk to the tranny shop and see what they say. Gary, I guarantee the flexplate is about to break again. Fortunately this time I'm not trying to make a long haul on the highway. It hasn't broken completely like the 2 previous times yet but if I tried to make it home I know it would. I called the transmission shop earlier today and left a message so I'll see what they say on Monday morning. I'm not thinking the transmission is the issue. I think the engine may be the cause. Do you remember who the PO said did the engine rebuild? I'm wondering if a bearing cap on the crank has come loose causing the bad vibe and cracking the flexplate. Could possibly check that by dropping the oil pan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Gary, I guarantee the flexplate is about to break again. Fortunately this time I'm not trying to make a long haul on the highway. It hasn't broken completely like the 2 previous times yet but if I tried to make it home I know it would. I called the transmission shop earlier today and left a message so I'll see what they say on Monday morning. I'm not thinking the transmission is the issue. I think the engine may be the cause. Do you remember who the PO said did the engine rebuild? I'm wondering if a bearing cap on the crank has come loose causing the bad vibe and cracking the flexplate. Could possibly check that by dropping the oil pan. That's really frustrating. But I doubt an engine vibration would do that. I say that because I had a an '82 that had a pretty serious vibration and it didn't cause a problem with the flex plate. However, I cannot say it won't do it. Do you feel any vibration? And, I don't think you can get the pan off w/o at least jacking the engine up quite a bit. The engine was supposedly built by the PO's cousin. But, didn't I pull the main and rod caps and check clearances? I'd have to go look, but if so any problems are more likely to have been introduced by me than him. However, that engine has been to PA and back since, as well as many other places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 That's really frustrating. But I doubt an engine vibration would do that. I say that because I had a an '82 that had a pretty serious vibration and it didn't cause a problem with the flex plate. However, I cannot say it won't do it. Do you feel any vibration? And, I don't think you can get the pan off w/o at least jacking the engine up quite a bit. The engine was supposedly built by the PO's cousin. But, didn't I pull the main and rod caps and check clearances? I'd have to go look, but if so any problems are more likely to have been introduced by me than him. However, that engine has been to PA and back since, as well as many other places. The family tree of your Bullnose's looks like a bowl of spaghetti.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 The family tree of your Bullnose's looks like a bowl of spaghetti.... I think that's an apt description. Dad's truck ran Rusty's engine for a while. Rusty wound up with Dad's transmission and flexplate. Dad's truck also used the ZF5 that is now sitting in Big Blue. And I'm sure there were many other things that were shared. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClayJ Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 I think that's an apt description. Dad's truck ran Rusty's engine for a while. Rusty wound up with Dad's transmission and flexplate. Dad's truck also used the ZF5 that is now sitting in Big Blue. And I'm sure there were many other things that were shared. Honestly I'm so frustrated with this predicament. Would it be feasible to just yank the engine/transmission combo and replace with different/new/reman units for the peace of mind? I need Rusty to be reliable and he surely has not been that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Honestly I'm so frustrated with this predicament. Would it be feasible to just yank the engine/transmission combo and replace with different/new/reman units for the peace of mind? I need Rusty to be reliable and he surely has not been that. Um, any time you adopt a stray dog he might crap the rug once or twice. I'd consider it a teething problem. Do you have engine problems??? Do you have shifting problems?? Are you ok with leaving well enough alone, until this gets solved? The truck is acting up, but none of the "experts" seem to know why. I used to train dogs, but most of their 'problems' were caused by humans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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