Rebuilt 904. Whirring. Dead?

Hi guys.

I'm an aussie, I've just fitted a brand new 318 engine to my 1967 valiant with a rebuilt 904 behind it.

The trans has been tricked up to take horsepower with new steel planetaries, heavy duty low/reverse band. transgo shift kit and all the other junk I know nothing about.

The trans builder said he modified the transgo semi manual shift kit but couldn't get it quite perfect.

He also said he couldn't get a replacement valve body. and all I ever heard from him was "I can't get one of these. i can't get that"

Which i found to be ridiculous because you can get everything for a torqueflite and this is just for a basic 350hp 318.

The torque converter is a Continental 3000RPM stall. it was also serviced at the same time as the transmission.

I put 4 Litres of fluid in the trans before i broke-in the cam in last night. and everything appeared optimistic as the engine runs sweet as a nut.

Nothing had leaked over night.



Today I drove the car just so I could get the car out of one shed to the other which has a hoist (200m away) for final checks and adjustments.

I rolled it back and forward twice in D and R to make sure It had motivation from the trans. It moved fine with the RPMs at a smidge above idle. I drove like this for about 30 seconds total before getting to a hill.

at that point I felt the revs drop with the load of the hill so I touched the throttle ever so slightly and something in the trans let go. :oops:

It revved up and made a sound like "WHIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRR".

The car started to roll backwards down the hill and the whirring sound was still there.

So I switched the ignition off and It was still making the noise even without the motor running as it rolled backwards.

After jacking the car up and checking the starter motor pinion. I discovered it was NOT binding on the ring gear at all.

I called the trans guy who built my trans and he suggested putting more fluid in the trans. I added an additional 2 litres which made no difference at all. and then another 2 litres with no difference at all.

This brings the total up to 8 litres of fluid.

With the engine running it makes the whirring sound in every gear except reverse.

starting it in reverse it has motivation but seems to clunk and put excessive load on the engine as it drives.

Starting it in drive has no motivation and makes the very prominent "whirrrr" noise that matches the engine RPM, as it does in park or neutal.



So I'd like your opinions.

What do you suspect might be the problem with my trans and how might it be fixed?

Is this my fault for not using enough trans fluid? or was it bad workmanship by the trans that caused this problem?

I am going to put a stock torque converter and stock 40+ year old transmission in the car just to get it running again while i sort out this other trans. because I'm sure that the problem is internal.

Look forward to hearing what you guys have to say on the topic.

I know there's some guys on here who know their torqueflites inside out, upside down and and backwards.

Thanks, Frosty.


PS. sorry for the super long post.