I attempted my first engine swap and had some major issues to research and overcome. Never done too much mech work, but I made really good progress by reading, reading, reading these threads. I blew a '89 6.2 from a GMC K2500, and swapped it out with a used '84. Yes, I converted it to serpentine, switched out the water pump and mounting plate, swapped out the oil filter adapter, exhaust, fule pump and intake, etc. Had no idea when I got the '84 there was so much that was different. I also redid the valve cover and oil pan gaskets, and even rotated the valve rocker shafts since they were oddly worn on one side do to the pre '88 style rockers.
Anyway, to my delight, the thing fired right up and was running great.

Here's the two issues.

1. This engine is leaking from the rear seal/bearings as far as I can tell. Oil is slinging off the flywheel. Is it just the bearings that seal things off? Am I out of my league? (Can't believe I have to pull it and rip into it again. Not sure it's worth it at this point. Hate to give up though. This is a milestone for me.)

2. When running I had no trans whatsoever. No park, no gears, nothing. I think I did not have the converter on ALL the way, but I didn't have it jammed up either. The engine bolted up even. However, when pulling the engine the converter was coming with it, on an slight angle, little fluid loss, but I removed a bolt I had missed and continued on. Pushed the converter back in place and so on. Engine went back in smooth. This is a TH400.
If the converter wasn't on all the way, set in properly, would I have no gears? It spins with the engine, but maybe the input shaft is permanently spinning with it. Just a thought. Newly rebuilt tranny was working awesome before towed to a shop.

Any insight is welcome, even beyond my questions. This is my first post ever and really learning a TON! Well, maybe a 3/4 ton. :)

I attempted my first engine swap and had some major issues to research and overcome. Never done too much mech work, but I made really good progress by reading, reading, reading these threads. I blew a '89 6.2 from a GMC K2500, and swapped it out with a used '84. Yes, I converted it to serpentine, switched out the water pump and mounting plate, swapped out the oil filter adapter, exhaust, fule pump and intake, etc. Had no idea when I got the '84 there was so much that was different. I also redid the valve cover and oil pan gaskets, and even rotated the valve rocker shafts since they were oddly worn on one side do to the pre '88 style rockers.
Anyway, to my delight, the thing fired right up and was running great.

Here's the two issues.

1. This engine is leaking from the rear seal/bearings as far as I can tell. Oil is slinging off the flywheel. Is it just the bearings that seal things off? Am I out of my league? (Can't believe I have to pull it and rip into it again. Not sure it's worth it at this point. Hate to give up though. This is a milestone for me.)

No... There is a rope seal in the rear bearing cap. Could be that, or could be you missed a little with your pan gasket when you installed the pan.... Also... You DO have your CDR hooked up right?

2. When running I had no trans whatsoever. No park, no gears, nothing. I think I did not have the converter on ALL the way, but I didn't have it jammed up either. The engine bolted up even. However, when pulling the engine the converter was coming with it, on an slight angle, little fluid loss, but I removed a bolt I had missed and continued on. Pushed the converter back in place and so on. Engine went back in smooth. This is a TH400.
If the converter wasn't on all the way, set in properly, would I have no gears? It spins with the engine, but maybe the input shaft is permanently spinning with it. Just a thought. Newly rebuilt tranny was working awesome before towed to a shop.

Yes.... While you had the engine out you should have spun the converter while pushing it back into the trans listening/feeling for it to seat back into the pump.....

Any insight is welcome, even beyond my questions. This is my first post ever and really learning a TON! Well, maybe a 3/4 ton. :)


And lastly.... :welcome2:

Hmmm... CDR valve. I need to check on this. The '84 had so many different parts from the '89. As I recall, the '89 had a brass valve on the passenger side cover. The '84 has nothing like that there. Maybe I've got that thing buttoned up tight and pressure is pushing my oil out. I'd be soooo glad if that's all it was. It's not the oil pan for sure. All dry.

As for the converter on the trans, I did turn it a little and push it back until it stopped firm, but I've since read that it will feel like it's on all the way and you still have to turn, shake, push it more to to be sure it seats in further. I read the converter should be away from the flywheel when the trans is bolted up. Then you slide it forward in place. Mine was already against the flywheel. Looks like I need to redo this.

Thanks! I've got my fingers crossed on that CDR valve.

It just hit me, the '84 had an old style oil filler tube. A flexible tube ran from that to the intake manifold (Creating the crankcase vacuum!!). The '89 had a seperate CDR connected into the valve cover. When I did my swap, I swapped out the oil filler tube too (it looks newer and better) so there's no way to connect up to the intake. The '84 has the old valve cover with no opening for the new style CDR. Basically, I have no CDR at all.

Damn it man, this IS my problem!
Can't wait to put the old oil filler tube back on and CDR line.

the 84 should have had a cdr mounted to the oil filler tube, then hoses branched to each side of intake. if it wasn't there, someone removed it. the 89 would have had the cdr mounted in the valve cover

Thanks Diaric, yeah, I think it was there. I set those old parts aside and never looked back. I'll have this taken care of tonight and post an update.

Hope it's as easy as that and fixes it for ya. :)

PERFECT! I installed the old oil filler tube in order to get the CDR back in use. I still need some long enough tube to connect to the intake manifold, but just decreasing the pressure in the crankcase alone did the trick. NOT A DRIP NOW!
Ran the engine up to temperature, and all's well.
I'll hook the CDR up the rest of the way and then it's on to my transmission issue.

Good to hear.... Keep us informed.

Last Post:
The truck is on the road and running great. CDR valve took care of the leak. As for thetransmission... well... you'll laugh at this one...
The transfer case was in neutral!
The tow company put it in neutral, which is good, but since I never touched it I never thought it would be that, something so simple. I had myself convinced that my tinkering with the converter was the culprit. Turns out my mech work was just fine!

Drove 45 miles from Anchorage to Palmer, AK. Did 60-65 mph the whole time. No trouble.

Thanks for the help.

D'OH!.... Happens to the best of us at sometime or another...... Glad it all worked out.

good to hear, ya i got stories about stupid things i've done and forgot to check

i was wondering why you had no park gear. seems strange why the towing company put it in 4WD when that locks the front and rear driveshafts together and disconects them from the transmission.

Sounds like the beginnings of a new thread!

i was wondering why you had no park gear. seems strange why the towing company put it in 4WD when that locks the front and rear driveshafts together and disconects them from the transmission.

He said they put it in NEUTRAL which totally unlocks both driveshafts from everything........ and putting it in 4WD WOULDN'T disconnect them from the trans either........ Come on man... THINK before you post..... :p:

no it doesnt joe. when my Tcase was out on the floor i put it in 2wd and it worked fine, 4wd and 4wlo and they all worked then i put it in neutral and when i turned the input nothing moved but if i turned the front driveflange the rear driveshaft was locked to it.

damn i cant edit it but that post where i said"i was wondering why you had no park gear. seems strange why the towing company put it in 4WD when that locks the front and rear driveshafts together and disconects them from the transmission." i meant to say "i was wondering why you had no park gear. seems strange why the towing company put it in neutral when that locks the front and rear driveshafts together and disconects them from the transmission."

Feels good when your mechanical challenge turns into highway cruisin dont it....welcome!