Rebuilt 904 install and start up

[swing69]

I’m starting with a rebuilt 904 Tran and new torque converter.

1). Before install, any prep like filling TC before install?

2). Take me through the process: filling the transmission , First start up and drive

Thanks

 

[j par]

I poured a quart of transmission fluid into the torque converter before I put it on. Then I pour about 5 quarts of transmission fluid into the transmission just before I'm ready to start the car. Then I start the car and while it's running add transmission fluid until it's to the add a pint Mark which remember is a half a quart of oil... Run the car through its gears 1st 2nd 3rd neutral reverse Park and let them sit in each one for a few seconds. Check the oil or fluid if you want to call it that. Make sure it's at least up to the add Mark. Take it for a drive making sure to run through all the gears and go somewhere and put it in reverse as well. And while it's running of course the only time you check transmission fluid go ahead and top it off now that the engine is very warmed up...

 

[70aarcuda]

Start in neutral

 

[CudaFactHackJob]

People are so deathly afraid of running it a little bit over the full mark that they end up burning up their transmission. The pump is going to suck up a gallon of fluid in about 60 seconds. Then all your bushings and thrust washers begin to starve. You can actually fill it up so high that it's pouring out the vent, start it up, and run it cuz the pump will suck it up and charge the converter before the fluid has a chance to aerate. I had a guy put a quart in the converter and four down the tube, start it up...then waited until the motor and trans were "good and warmed up" before he added about four more quarts to top it off. The converter came back with about 1/16" worn off all the way around. I always run mine about an inch above the full mark. Three inches would be too much; the level would be up into the spinning drums and that would aerate the fluid (cause foaming) and burn up clutches when the trans tries to apply them with bubbly fliuid; not enough pump pressure to apply them fully. But if you don't drive it until the next day (when the bubbles rise out) There's no harm cuz even the bubbly fluid will lube the bushings and thrust washers. Rule: If you don't know that your trans is "FULL" shut off your motor.

 

[j par]

People are so deathly afraid of running it a little bit over the full mark that they end up burning up their transmission. The pump is going to suck up a gallon of fluid in about 60 seconds. Then all your bushings and thrust washers begin to starve. You can actually fill it up so high that it's pouring out the vent, start it up, and run it cuz the pump will suck it up and charge the converter before the fluid has a chance to aerate. I had a guy put a quart in the converter and four down the tube, start it up...then waited until the motor and trans were "good and warmed up" before he added about four more quarts to top it off. The converter came back with about 1/16" worn off all the way around. I always run mine about an inch above the full mark. Three inches would be too much; the level would be up into the spinning drums and that would aerate the fluid (cause foaming) and burn up clutches when the trans tries to apply them with bubbly fliuid; not enough pump pressure to apply them fully. But if you don't drive it until the next day (when the bubbles rise out) There's no harm cuz even the bubbly fluid will lube the bushings and thrust washers. Rule: If you don't know that your trans is "FULL" shut off your motor.

^^^you did notice I said start adding even more as soon as you start the car?>>>
Not run it on the five courts plus the one in the converter till it's warm... But add until it's at least to the add Mark while it's running and then make sure definitely it stopped off after it's warm... I was just trying to give some simple sound advice nothing Hi-Tech.... even though you sound like you know what you're talkin about I don't think most people are going to be in their comfort zone keeping their fluids an inch over full from the factory recommendation....

 

[DentalDart]

I had help from @70aarcuda With mine... We just poured transmission fluid in the fill tube, started it in neutral then added more as needed...

 

[CudaFactHackJob]

Fluid level is critical. If transmissions had an oil light, then everybody would understand what I'm talking about. If the trans is a couple quarts low, then it's probably burning itself up. How long would your engine last with the oil light on?

 

[j par]

Fluid level is critical. If transmissions had an oil light, then everybody would understand what I'm talking about. If the trans is a couple quarts low, then it's probably burning itself up. How long would your engine last with the oil light on?

Well you say that and I had this one circumstance recently. I bought a 73 Dodge truck with a 318. I got to say I was fascinated with how strait The grill was and said to myself I don't care what does thing runs like if he's going to sell that for x amount I'm buying it. It was at least an hour away from home if not an hour and a half Drive. So I drive it through the country to the nearest gas station next to the interstate freeway. I go to check the oil and hear this hollow sound when I pulled the dipstick. That revealed not a drop. So I go into the store and buy two quarts and pour it in. It barely red on the tip of the dipstick. I went ahead and drove the freeway all the way home and put it in two more courts and it was still a half quart low LOL this engine was so gross and so full of oil I could not even barely see it. So before I completely tossed the engine I did a compression check. Within 5 lb of 150 on all eight cylinders. I pulled it and the tranny out and put it on my engine stand.. pulled the oil pan off and the oil pump and the rear main cap to change the rear seal... WHAT REAR SEAL?! THERE WAS NO REAR MAIN SEAL!... Of course I completely reseal the engine rebuilt the carburetor and all that stuff put it back in and it ran perfect... Apparently the oil light bulb must have been burnt out LOL.... Probably from overuse so I don't believe this analogy is a good one in conclusion... and just for the record I would never run a transmission low on transmission fluid but then again I don't think I would run it an inch above fully either...