Slipping torque converter or transmission

omerbagi10

New Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2023
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Location
Israel
So my beloved aspen wagon (slant 6 + a904) has a slipping torque or trans, shifts through all the gears with no issues but when I accelerate hard from stop it slips and the whole body shakes, otherwise it drives great with almost no leaks from the transmission.
I've replaced the motor and transmission mounts, have a new transmission filter installed, a new driveshaft and u joints.
Now Im probably not the first or the last guy to start a thread about this but theres a catch, Im from outside the US and where I live parts are very hard to find and when I do find some they are very expensive and mechanics have nightmares just from looking at a stupid rusty chrysler product that is easier to fix than a brick.
But I've managed to get my hands on a used torque converter from a 75 dart.
Now my question is, is it possible that the cause of the slipping and vibrations during hard accelerations are because of the torque converter? because everything else works great, so Im thinking of only replacing the torque since rebuilding the transmission or buying a working one will cost me almost half of the car's value and its hard to find mechanics that are willing to do the work.
I know its very hard to guess but you all probably have a lot more knowledge about this stuff than anybody else here.
Thanks in advance.
 

AMC Diplomat

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2023
Messages
1,017
Reaction score
480
Location
NY
How old is the carburetor? Just curious if you've ruled out carb/coil issues first.
 

omerbagi10

New Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2023
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Location
Israel
How old is the carburetor? Just curious if you've ruled out carb/coil issues first.
I dont know, I have it for almost 2 years, rebuilt the carburetor around a year ago.
In neutral it revs with no issues, it only happens in drive.
I replaced the transmission with a very junky one and had no issues with it (no slipping) until a couple of days later the transmission failed due to it been sitting outside for 2 years before I bought it for 150$ish so I need to return the old one that I have been using for a year and a half but I had the idea of keeping the junky transmission’s torque converter therefore Im here.
 

LSM360

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2011
Messages
812
Reaction score
314
Location
Melbourne, Florida
That sounds like classic converter symptoms. Sounds like converter shudder and slippage. Did you pull pan yet and see if it looks relatively clean? If you don't have a bunch of material in the pan I'd say it's a good bet you have bad converter.
 

omerbagi10

New Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2023
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Location
Israel
That sounds like classic converter symptoms. Sounds like converter shudder and slippage. Did you pull pan yet and see if it looks relatively clean? If you don't have a bunch of material in the pan I'd say it's a good bet you have bad converter.
Dang it, Just got it back from the shop after changing back to my old transmission with the maybe faulty torque converter.
I remember dropping the pan about a year ago when replacing the transmission oil filter but the oil was pretty clean.
I asked the shop owner if he thinks the torque converter is bad but he said that the transmission probably needs a rebuild (I dont really trust him but he probably knows more than me).
Maybe in the future when I’ll finish my degree and have some spare cash I will try replacing the converter, but until then its go easy on the gas pedal for me.
 

LSM360

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2011
Messages
812
Reaction score
314
Location
Melbourne, Florida
I seriously doubt you're in need of an overhaul if it's going into gears good, shifting good and you don't have crap in the pan and fluid looked okay.

Did mechanic drive car?

Also, I think your Aspen came with a lock-up converter and the used Dart one would be non lock-up. I don't remember the interchangeability on these. Possibly fine without solenoid. I don't think the lock-up converters were as durable as non.
 
Last edited:

Aspen500

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2015
Messages
7,030
Reaction score
2,759
Location
Rib Mountain, WI
A non lock up converter can't be used with a lock up trans and vice versa.

Well, they can interchange but you also need to swap the matching input shaft, pump and valve body. They're different between lock and non lock.
 
Back
Top