Torque Converter Snout Cracket: Run It Or Not?

If the TC snout had two cracks in it and the trans did not show any issues inside, would you continue to run the TC with the cracks?

Does a cracked snout point to any internal TC issues?

I am planning on buying a new TC, but I am just curious if the snout cracks are dangerous or not.

Thanks

Send the converter to converter manufacturer and get the snout replaced..

make sure they put a chromemoly snout on it.

Cracked a snout at the drags once on a pass; made itself known by hosing the underside of the car with ATF. The track surface got some too.

BEST to have it fixed ...or run the new one you plan on buying. HOSING DOWN the rear tires with ATF can be a major pucker "experience".

For your reading pleasure:

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=7478595&Main=7477471

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/archive/index.php/t-206747.html

Fix it.

Dangerous?

I had a piece of a 904 converter snout break off once. Made its way back into the front pump mechanism, got ground up and shot fragments through the rest of the internals. Locked up the entire drive train including the rear wheels going down the interstate at 60 miles per hour in a slight curve. The locked rear wheels made the car kick sideways. Fortunately, after a couple seconds, something else in the transmission broke and the tires freed up before I was completely out of control, and I made it to the side of the road where I waited for a tow truck.

In addition to all that excitement, the fragments that made it back into the internals, wedged a bunch of parts together and the transmission shop had to beat the thing apart only to find out I would be cheaper off buying a new transmission than replacing all the damaged parts in that one.

So yeah...Dangerous in my book. And way more expensive in that case than a new high quality converter.

The question is a joke? Correct?

Thank you all for the replies. Even though this converter had the two cracks, it was not leaking, YET!

The question was not a joke, I was just curious as to if a cracked snout could turn dangerous. I was not aware that it was cracked before I pulled the tranny. Without knowing what would happen, this makes me wonder if some would keep running one in this condition. I don't plan too, but I just wanted to know what could happen.

My main thought was if the snout was cracked and there is no issue with the front pump assembly, is the cracked snout a hint that something inside of the TC could be wrong too, or is a cracked snout just an external issue to the TC.

Thanks again.

Most likely has nothing to do with the converter internals or pump assembly and could be repaired by a good shop. Although depending on where the crack spread to it could be grooving the support bushing. I think in my case above it was a matter of bad driving habits back then. Back dragging the transmission at red lights, and neutral dropping at green lights. A lot of unnecessary stress on the converter...what? I was 20 at the time.

Turbo Action makes a bigger/stronger snout for that reason. you have to machine off the ribs on the pump drive gto make room. I believe that these days you can ge one with a stronger metal.

"A shortcut is the quickest way to a place you didn't want to go."

Most cracked snouts I've seen were caused by someone removing the engine from a car with the converter still bolted to the flexplate.

I was on the TA websight and found this tech note. It appears that they have seen this crack before on the TF's. They show the 904 and not the 727 though.
Choose Tech Tips and it is #6.

http://www.turboaction.com/frame.html

i don't think its a big deal to replace the snouts. if you need a stock 10 3/4" converter to run on until the broken one is fixed i'll give you one.

Lewtot,
Thanks allot for the offer. My tranny builder will be ordering my new converter and I will pick it up at the same time as my tranny. I wanted to gain some knowledge before I talked to him again about my options.
I will be keeping the cracked converter just in case I may need it down the road. If I do use it again, I will send it to TA for a rebuild. Thanks again and again to the above replies.

Y07_A66:

What converter did you decide on for the replacement?

I am going to try the 9.5" dynamic. Hopefully it will be on order in the next 2 weeks or so.

Thanks