I am getting ready to rebuild my transmission and want to replace the torque converter as well. I looked to Advanced Auto because it's about 2 blocks away from my house.

The only concern I have is that the website says it has two different torque converters that can fit on my 93 Dodge Ram Van B250...both have two different spline counts. I attempted to call Advanced Auto to talk with someone who might be able to help but noone I was able to talk to knew more about what was going on than I did...and I don't know much.

Is there anyway to tell the number of splines my torque converter has prior to removing and counting them?

All info I can think of providing regarding the issue:
1993 Dodge Ram Van B250
318 V6
727 Torqueflite Transmission code on drivers side looks like PK52117696 1344 7015


Specs for the two converters:
A518, A618 Transmission; Lockup; 11" Diameter; 23 Splines
A500 Transmission; Lockup; 11" Diameter; 26 Splines

Up until this problem I had only known of the 24 and 19(i think) spline converters. What converter should I buy or should I just wait until Ive taken the existing one down? Any help would be much appreciated.

 

I don't believe either of those converters will fit your tranny. The A500, A518, and A618 are overdrive versions of the 904 and 727 Torqueflite trannys. As far as I know, the V6 doesn't use an overdrive tranny.

 

You are exactly right, I have no OD. That's exactly what I was afraid of. Glad I didnt just go ahead and buy one. Any ideas as to what type of converter I would need or where to get it from?

 

(BTW, the V6 is a 3.9L engine, the 318 is a V8 5.2L engine.)
Autozone can special order the TC for you.

Dacco/Transmission Torque Converter
Price: $119.99
Core charge $20.00
Part Number: 853

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...326533_0_13116

 

I ran into an issue after I dropped the transmission....the torque converter is welded to the flywheel. I've heard of this before but never saw it myself. Is this typical for this transmission? I haven't seen a replacement that comes with the flywheel. Pretty lost right now. Any help is, as always, appreciated.

 

Now why would someone go and do that? You need to be able to remove the torque converter in order to access the bolts holding the flywheel to the rear of the crankshaft.

 

.....

 

Not entirely sure which is why I figured I'd ask.




It is not stuck, it is definitely welded into place. In order to remove the torque converter from the shaft I had to remove the 4 flywheel bolts holding the flywheel onto the engine.


Judging by these comments I have two options:
replace the unit as is and hope the torque converter isn't jacked
or
buy a torqueconverter and a flywheel


Anyone have any ideas on a good method to remove the front planetary gears from a mushrooming outputshaft? lol. Seems like every step I take towards completion of this rebuild theres another problem hiding in the shadows.

 

Hold the phone! I didn't pick up on this last night but let's make sure we're talking about the same thing here. The big ring gear for the starter is supposed to be welded to the TC (see image below.) If the ring gear or the TC is bad, it gets replaced as an assembly. It's the flex-plate that is bolted to the TC by 4 bolts 90 degrees apart and also bolted to the rear of the crankshaft.

 

You're epic man! Maybe I was just calling it a flywheel because thats what I'm used to dealing with. I used to work on AC generators and in between the engine and the generator was big ole flywheel so I figured this is what the TC was welded onto. The TC in the image you've shown is the one thats now sitting in the back of my van.

At least now I know its not some nightmarish rig job. None of the TC's I've seen have had this ring gear though, including the one you linked previously, at least not that I've noticed; which is what caused my confusion...sorry for any confusion my confusion caused lol. Now I just got to find a TC like this then I guess. Do you know where I could pick an assembly like this?

edit: on second look the ones that advanced suggested were a perfect fit did have this ring gear, only the one you linked did not.
Hopefully I didnt do to much dmg to the shaft because I was definitely trying to get it off before removing these 4 bolts. The torque converter was still attached when I finally got the rest of the transmission off *facepalm