Did engine swap and now it will not drive anywhere?

2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
400 MILES • 5.3L • V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
RUSSELL DICK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
So, I just did an engine swap on my truck listed above. I pulled the old engine with the transmission and separated it when I got it on the ground, I then took the same 5.3 engine out of a 2011 Silverado and bolted it up to my original transmission and set it back in. Hooked everything up and started it. It sounds like a perfectly good running motor until I gave it gas and the idle wouldn't come back down below 2,500 RPMs, so I figured vacuum leak of some sort. Anyways, I think I got that issue figured out but then I tried it again and put it into gear and there's nothing, no reverse, no gears nothing. So, I put it up on jack stands and put it in gear to see if torque Converter would spin with flex plate. Which it does I do t think the transmission fluid is circulating though because the level on the dipstick stays the same. I don't know where to start from this. Do I outline the whole engine again and go from the start or is there something I can do to fix this without pulling everything apart again?
Aug 24, 2022 at 10:25 AM
Repair Safety Notice: This information is for general instructional purposes only. Vehicle repair can be dangerous. Verify all information, follow manufacturer service procedures, use proper tools and safety equipment, and consult a qualified repair shop when needed.
Advertisement
Avatar
STRAILER
  • AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 54,187 POSTS
So, what happens is the torque converter has a three-step installation that must be done before you install the engine. If it is only in 2 steps and you tighten the engine up to the bell housing it crashes into the front pump of the transmission. This is a common problem because there is nothing to hold the converter into the transmission and it just slips out.

Check out this video which shows what I mean:

https://youtu.be/ZC7xHVMKLRw

Let me know what happens. You might need to pull the transmission out; this video will walk you through the job:

https://youtu.be/3vJAojsrfuU

Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem. Check out the images below.
Aug 25, 2022 at 11:37 AM
Advertisement