Rocket Man's 02 Denali Build Thread AKA "THE BEAST"

[Tonyrodz]

Looking good Red! Can't wait til you get everything up and running again. Def waiting on some vids!

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Tonight's pictures. The transfer case still needs to dry a bit more and it will crinkle better. That thing was a ***** to clean and prep but it will look sweet. I also just painted the crossmembers. What the hell right?

View attachment 181738 View attachment 181739 View attachment 181740 View attachment 181741 View attachment 181742

You are over the top, Red!

 

[Rocket Man]

Got the torque converter today so I have everything ready for the install tomorrow. When I decided to paint the trans crossmember I wanted to remove the mount and the bolts broke so I had to make a run to the auto parts store. The instructions for the converter say if I have more than .187 between the flexplate and the converter pads I need to use .060 flat washers between the converter and flexplate so off I went to Ace. I didn't realize how many damn washers (about 50) I'd have to measure with a dial caliper to find some that were close, 3 of them at .055. So no more excuses, this thing's going in tomorrow!

 

[bottomline2000]

Got the torque converter today so I have everything ready for the install tomorrow. When I decided to paint the trans crossmember I wanted to remove the mount and the bolts broke so I had to make a run to the auto parts store. The instructions for the converter say if I have more than .187 between the flexplate and the converter pads I need to use .060 flat washers between the converter and flexplate so off I went to Ace. I didn't realize how many damn washers (about 50) I'd have to measure with a dial caliper to find some that were close, 3 of them at .055. So no more excuses, this thing's going in tomorrow!View attachment 181766 View attachment 181767 View attachment 181768 View attachment 181769

Same measurements as mine. There's a chance you may not need any washers. Make sure u got feeler gauges to check the spacing.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T377A using Tapatalk

 

[Tonyrodz]

Got the torque converter today so I have everything ready for the install tomorrow. When I decided to paint the trans crossmember I wanted to remove the mount and the bolts broke so I had to make a run to the auto parts store. The instructions for the converter say if I have more than .187 between the flexplate and the converter pads I need to use .060 flat washers between the converter and flexplate so off I went to Ace. I didn't realize how many damn washers (about 50) I'd have to measure with a dial caliper to find some that were close, 3 of them at .055. So no more excuses, this thing's going in tomorrow!View attachment 181766 View attachment 181767 View attachment 181768 View attachment 181769

I don't envy you Red! You're gonna be one sore dude, especially doing it on the ground. Good luck!

 

[Rocket Man]

Holy crap this is kicking my ass. I got the trans mounted by 10:30 this morning but ran into trouble bolting up the torque converter; FTI's instructions say if the gap between the flexplate and the converter pads is over 3/16" I need to install .060" washers as spacers. I tried for 2-3 hours but couldn't get them in. The flexplate is in the way; you're working through the starter hole and the hole in the flexplate is way back from the edge so I was trying to use grease to stick the washer to my finger and then hold it against the back side of the flexplate and slide it in and stick a bolt through because I can't hold it and put it back there. Every time I (thought I ) had one in and the bolt started, I had to slide out and go turn the crank over until I thought the next bole was close to the hole down there, then go down and use a screwdriver to line the next bolt hole up where I could get to it and the washer, and every time I thought I had one in, it would fall out when turning the crank. I did each bolt at least 4-5 times. I couldn't even see if they were in by using an inspection mirror. It's real hard just to get a bolt in, much less reach around behind and slide a washer between the flexplate and converter. My gap is maybe .030 over the .187 (3/16") they spec. I'm going to leave it. So then I started installing the transfer case but the trans was hanging too low so I tried leaving it jacked up and hanging with one end on the rear crossmember while I installed the front (trans) crossmember. I was using a second floor jack on the trans and needed to lower it a bit to line things up but lowered the wrong jack and the t case came down because I was watching the trans and it wasn't coming down! But then I figured I needed to install the exhaust first anyway so I started on that and it was fighting me so I just stopped for the day. I'm beat. This is hard with one person. I'll get it tomorrow though. I made a lot of progress today.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Holy crap this is kicking my ass. I got the trans mounted by 10:30 this morning but ran into trouble bolting up the torque converter; FTI's instructions say if the gap between the flexplate and the converter pads is over 3/16" I need to install .060" washers as spacers. I tried for 2-3 hours but couldn't get them in. The flexplate is in the way; you're working through the starter hole and the hole in the flexplate is way back from the edge so I was trying to use grease to stick the washer to my finger and then hold it against the back side of the flexplate and slide it in and stick a bolt through because I can't hold it and put it back there. Every time I (thought I ) had one in and the bolt started, I had to slide out and go turn the crank over until I thought the next bole was close to the hole down there, then go down and use a screwdriver to line the next bolt hole up where I could get to it and the washer, and every time I thought I had one in, it would fall out when turning the crank. I did each bolt at least 4-5 times. I couldn't even see if they were in by using an inspection mirror. It's real hard just to get a bolt in, much less reach around behind and slide a washer between the flexplate and converter. My gap is maybe .030 over the .187 (3/16") they spec. I'm going to leave it. So then I started installing the transfer case but the trans was hanging too low so I tried leaving it jacked up and hanging with one end on the rear crossmember while I installed the front (trans) crossmember. I was using a second floor jack on the trans and needed to lower it a bit to line things up but lowered the wrong jack and the t case came down because I was watching the trans and it wasn't coming down! But then I figured I needed to install the exhaust first anyway so I started on that and it was fighting me so I just stopped for the day. I'm beat. This is hard with one person. I'll get it tomorrow though. I made a lot of progress today.

I really do feel your pain Red! You don't have a buddy who can help you out? Just curious, what would a shop charge just for the install? Sometimes it's just not worth the aggravation of trying to do it yourself.

 

[PG01]

Couldnt use one of these to turn the flexplate?

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Holy crap this is kicking my ass. I got the trans mounted by 10:30 this morning but ran into trouble bolting up the torque converter; FTI's instructions say if the gap between the flexplate and the converter pads is over 3/16" I need to install .060" washers as spacers. I tried for 2-3 hours but couldn't get them in. The flexplate is in the way; you're working through the starter hole and the hole in the flexplate is way back from the edge so I was trying to use grease to stick the washer to my finger and then hold it against the back side of the flexplate and slide it in and stick a bolt through because I can't hold it and put it back there. Every time I (thought I ) had one in and the bolt started, I had to slide out and go turn the crank over until I thought the next bole was close to the hole down there, then go down and use a screwdriver to line the next bolt hole up where I could get to it and the washer, and every time I thought I had one in, it would fall out when turning the crank. I did each bolt at least 4-5 times. I couldn't even see if they were in by using an inspection mirror. It's real hard just to get a bolt in, much less reach around behind and slide a washer between the flexplate and converter. My gap is maybe .030 over the .187 (3/16") they spec. I'm going to leave it. So then I started installing the transfer case but the trans was hanging too low so I tried leaving it jacked up and hanging with one end on the rear crossmember while I installed the front (trans) crossmember. I was using a second floor jack on the trans and needed to lower it a bit to line things up but lowered the wrong jack and the t case came down because I was watching the trans and it wasn't coming down! But then I figured I needed to install the exhaust first anyway so I started on that and it was fighting me so I just stopped for the day. I'm beat. This is hard with one person. I'll get it tomorrow though. I made a lot of progress today.

Wow. My only question, you did or did not ever get the washers in?
You are a beast, Red. Keep at it.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Couldnt use one of these to turn the flexplate?
View attachment 181819

Since everybody just has that laying around....