Convertor issue

[Blackened300a]

Well it hasnt been too long since I gave a rave review on the installation of a convertor that now I have a problem.

When Im in any of the drive gears the car is perfect, its smooth and delivers the power like I explained in my earlier thread.
However, when I put the car in park or neutral I get a vibration, like a spinning vibration. As if the TC is out of balance.
Now if it was out of round Im sure there would be a vibration at all speeds, but even stopped at a stop light the idle is smooth and I dont feel anything, As soon as I put the tranny in park the vibration starts.
I have checked the bolts holding the TC to the flywheel and they are all tight and the TC is sitting flush to the flywheel, I also checked the fluid and all bolts around the bellhousing and everything is tight and normal.
My only idea is that there is a internal issue with the convertor and the stator when it freewheels is out of balance.

Anyone else have any other idea's??

[sailsmen]

I have not experienced any vibration.

[Glenn]

No problems with mine after 1 1/2 years. I would call PI and explain the problem to them. They would be able to help you with the virbration problem.

Glenn

[Blackened300a]

Thanks I was going to try that but I really feel that this is a internal issue and if nothing helps then I hope to have another convertor sent to me so I can do the swap rather then having to pay for the swap of this TC for my stock til I receive the new one then having to pay all over again.
Im sure this vibration is not good for the input shaft bearing of my tranny.

[MarauderMark]

I have not experienced any vibration.
I haven't had any problem either.Glenn hit it right on the nose.:)

[SergntMac]

Relax. It's not the converter. Actually not a problem at all, but a characteristic of the engine design, and converter combination.

Every engine has a vibration "sweet spot" hidden somewhere inside it. It's not possible to build a rotating mass (pistons, rods and crank in motion) without creating a vibration somewhere in the RPM spectrum, without custom building and balancing of each individual engine. We don't get that stuff at our level.

Vibration differs slightly from engine to engine due to "external balancing" of the rotating mass with a crankshaft mounted balancer, but this effort suffers because crank balancers (aka dampners, the large pulley at the bottom center of the engine for y'all not in the know) are mass produced for a particular application, and not tuned to each individual engine.

The balancer on the Marauder is designed to counter balance the rotating mass that includes a heavy (therefore slower moving) torque converter in place. You have upset this equasion with a lighter and more efficient torque converter, and this vibration has come to the surface. It was always there, just not so obvious to your senses. It is "specifically vague" across the engine production, and the Marauder engine uses the largest balancer every produced for the 4.6L engine. The low RPM balance is slightly off, but not to worry. It amounts to nothing but a sensation in the driver's senses and "butt-o-meter". It's from the same family of vibrations that appear when you change the exhaust system vibration with aftermarket mufflers and resonator delete tips. NHV (noise, vibration, harshness) stuff.

I have a Stallion triple plate in the KB #1x Marauder, and the stock OEM in the #3. In "no load" idle conditions, I have a slight vibration in both, hot and cold.

The #1x has a professionally balanced engine, and the vibration is set right at 650 RPM, just below my "drive in idle" RPM, so, I only feel it when the engine is hot, and not under load i.e, idle in neutral/park. My #3 stock Marauder shows it around 550 RPM hot, and 1000 to 1200 RPM cold. This is slight vibration and I don't notice it unless I'm looking for it.

Most likely, you have had this vibration all along, but never looked for it before. Now that the crankshaft is not turning 80#s of dead weight, the vibration has moved down from a cruise in gear RPM to idle in gear RPM. You have a new converter and you're feeling something "new" and it's not new, just new to you.

Buy a bottle of water, take sips until the water is down below the neck and store it in one of the cup holders in the console. Let it settle to still, then start the engine and play with loads and no loads, hot and cold.

The vibration will telegraph to the water and it will ripple, and give you a measuring stick for testing purposes. I am sure you will come to feel that it's not a problem, just something you never felt before.

BTW, the Stallion TC also sometimes "clatters" at idle in neutral and park, depending on your particular Marauder. This is mentioned in your Stallion install instructions as a natural sound. Some hear it, some do not, but it's identified in their instructions as a native characsteric of the convertor.

Hope this helps, carry on gents.

[Blackened300a]

I appreciate your advice Mac but, if I rev the engine either hot or cold in park or neutral, I get the vibration through the entire band.
I dont hear any chatter or anything for that matter and to be honest, I'd rather have a slight noise then this vibration. It just puzzles me that there are no issues when its in drive or reverse.

Before I did this mod, you are correct about the sweet spot, It came in at about 1800 RPMs. I would feel a little vibration and it would go away at either a lower or higher RPM. With the TC in place its even more of a vibration and at all RPM's. My "in drive idle" is set at the same RPM as my "in park idle" ,850 RPM's
To be honest this has me concerned and uncomfortable about leaving the car idling in park for too long.
Now that you mentioned the dampner, Im wondering if I should run to put my stock pullies back on.

Is there anyone with U/D Pullies installed with a T/C that may feel a vibration like the one I have explained??

[sabtaj1]

I do. and I also have a little vibration in p and n. drive and reverse is fine. I mean its not alot but a little vibration. Would have to actually sit in your car though. best of luck

[TooManyFords]

Check to make sure there is nothing from the exhaust touching the frame. In neutral, the engine torque may be allowing something to rub. In drive, it forces it away from the frame or mount.

I had this happen with a high-flow cat against my tranny mount. We just "clearanced" it with a pry bar and problem solved.

John

[MarauderMark]

No problems with mine after 1 1/2 years. I would call PI and explain the problem to them. They would be able to help you with the virbration problem.

Glenn
Precision Industries (http://www.converter.com/)