Hey I'm Geano, I'm not a seasoned mechanic but I have decent knowledge of how things work... I have a 93 Dakota 3.9L LE 2X4.

So, I have minimum knowledge of what's behind the trans oil pump. I was going to try to replace the seal but I'm having trouble with that BUT I'm having more problems with a metal clacking sound like metal to metal in the transmission. I have seated this damn TC about 3x times already. I had the 3/16th‐1/8th air gap and everything. I slide the TC forward and stayed putting in the bolts. The truck actually ran GREAT for about 2 weeks and then a started hearing a small clicking sound... it was like every time I started my truck to drive somewhere the sound was getting louder and louder until it was a DEFINITE like something is wrong.
when I opened the TC I found at first 2 bits of metal... maybe a ring or something but when I looked online I couldn't find anything related. Then after unbolting Trans backing it out 3x times I kept making sure the TC was right and I believe it was. I took off the flex plate and I see there's damage where the bolts go but that's because 2 of them loosened up and flew out. I had to tap those.. I only have 3 bolts instead of 4 cause the whole hole I just don't have a bolt to fit if I tapped it bigger. Then after a test of things it was like the tighter I made it on flex plate the quieter it got but I'm afraid anymore right will break plate. My torque specs for this truck was 22.5lbs for TC bolts when I looked things up for my truck. Then after one of the test run I found metal shaving SHARP shavings just like 1 or 2 pieces in front of torque converter on bottom of trans case.
So far the fluid is clear nothing in it at all and nice color not burnt, I noticed wear on the input shaft on the back spindle the most and some on the front. I also see the seal is holding but it's definitely slow watery leak.. you can see where the fluid runs but it isn't pooling. I just know that seal in the pump is going and I want to replace it while I have everything apart.



















ALSO! WHAT IS THIS SQUARE HEX LOOKING HOLE NEAR THE OIL PUMP?

Very confused anyone? PLEASE HELP I can't get to work till this is fixed.

MANY PICTURES

 

The square hole thing is a pipe plug. Used to block the end of a passage after it is drilled. (part of the manufacturing process.)

The holes in your flex plate are oblong, which implies the bolts weren't tight. Or, they may be too long, not allowing them to get tight..... That will definitely make some noise.

Got a better pic of what you found in the pan? Might be a band anchor, but, not for sure on that.

 

The front pump bolts are 20 Nm or 15 ft-lb with a drop of red locktite

The stock-style 5/16 torque converter bolts are 31 Nm or 22.5 ft-lb with 2-3 drops of red locktite. (for reference, aftermarket ARP 7/16 converter bolts are 65 ft-lb plus red)

The flexplate bolts (to crankshaft) are 75 Nm or 55 ft-lb with a drop of red locktite.

The sound you are hearing is the convertor bolts coming loose and going tink-tink-tink against the flexplate and/or backing out far enough to possibly be taking material off the back of the block.

1000% you need to replace the flexplate. The holes being oblong that much till never tighten back properly.

That stator tube is also really tore up. Makes me wonder if the stator is spinning on the tube.