Thread: Converter help.....advice....opinions...

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well i was under my car the other night installing a shifter on the trans, i was staring up at the trans and conveter, th400, which is installed in the car already, And i realized that i had installed it (months ago) without filling the &^#*!!! converter with fluid.

so what am i looking at if i just fill the trans and fill the trans cooler with fluid and let the trans pump, fill it. I realize the converter holds around 3 or 4 quarts of fluid, will there be significant damage to dry start it and let the trans pump fill it???

in my heart i know i should unbolt the friggin thing and fill the converter......but i guess out of curiosity.....what will happen if it dry starts like mentioned above.......

thanks in advance.....

Dont know if I would dry start it knucklehead...

I am only admitting it now, but I forgot to fill the converter on my T when I slipped it in place. How I did it, I don't know, but I guess I was just excited to get it together.

Bottom line, I fired it up and kept adding fluid until the converter and cooler were filled. I lucked out as nothing seems to be damaged.

Don

Any doubts, back fill the cooler line that comes off of the pump/converter. It won't take much and it's a lot easier than a tear down.

always better safe than sorry, time is a small price to pay

I did the same thing 3 times - on two different cars . The first one I just put a few quarts in the transmission and kept adding until full - never had a problem. I was dum enough after the first time, to do it a second time after I bought a higher stall converter. Again, not a problem. This last and 3rd time, I pulled it apart and added my quart of ATF. But still don't think there would have been a problem - same transmission (TCI-C4) and the same 'verter (TCI - Breakaway). Me, if the car is together, add a few quarts, start it up and the pump will circulate the oil.

Hey knucklehead, just don't give things enough time to heat up.....

The instructions with my new converter from TCI said to put 1 quart in it prior to installation. This is primarily for the benefit of the bearings. Bottom line when you start up and immediately take care to complete the fill it will charge with oil quickly and you should not damage anything.

Kitz

03-07-2008 02:58 PM
DennyW / I would say you will be ok. If the trans is dry. Pour in 4 quarts, start it, and let it idle. Then, check and fill until you get it full. Don't fill it all the way up though, until you let it run and warm the fluid up some. When it reads on the stick, then, hold the brake, and run the selector through the gears, all the gears, and then recheck the level.

Thanks for the advice Denny. much appreciated



BigTruckDriver / Dont know if I would dry start it knucklehead...

Man...im scared, but finding out im not the only one.....is restoring my confidence.....




Itoldyouso / I am only admitting it now, but I forgot to fill the converter on my T when I slipped it in place. How I did it, I don't know, but I guess I was just excited to get it together.

Bottom line, I fired it up and kept adding fluid until the converter and cooler were filled. I lucked out as nothing seems to be damaged.

Don

Yes, i remember being very excited too......brand new clean shinny parts......must have made me delusional , thanks for sharing your expirience, im leaning towards adding a bit of fluid like Denny said and starting it.



nitrowarrior / Any doubts, back fill the cooler line that comes off of the pump/converter. It won't take much and it's a lot easier than a tear down.

Ya i was thinking about that....kinda like filling the oil filter.....i think im going to put in a half quart or a quart in the trans fluid cooler and lines....might help it circulate faster......hopefully



bigjon 454 / always better safe than sorry, time is a small price to pay

Ya....this is also running around in my mind.....cuz the new trans and convertor.....weren't a small price to pay.....




IC2 / I did the same thing 3 times - on two different cars . The first one I just put a few quarts in the transmission and kept adding until full - never had a problem. I was dum enough after the first time, to do it a second time after I bought a higher stall converter. Again, not a problem. This last and 3rd time, I pulled it apart and added my quart of ATF. But still don't think there would have been a problem - same transmission (TCI-C4) and the same 'verter (TCI - Breakaway). Me, if the car is together, add a few quarts, start it up and the pump will circulate the oil.

IC2, thanks for sharing that, no offence, but i feel a bit better now , when i realized the convertor was dry i had that dreaded sinking feeling, and didnt wan to believe what i knew i had done....damn......definetely a knucklehead move .. but thats great there were no long term affects, i was worried about that and reducing a new parts life span by 50% or more........



BigTruckDriver / Hey knucklehead, just don't give things enough time to heat up.....

Thanks for the tip......will definetely watch the amount of time it runs.....before completely full




kitz / The instructions with my new converter from TCI said to put 1 quart in it prior to installation. This is primarily for the benefit of the bearings. Bottom line when you start up and immediately take care to complete the fill it will charge with oil quickly and you should not damage anything.

Kitz


Thanks for the response.....i remember my TCI instructions said the same thing......but it didnt say i had to remember it.... , because of the advise and previous expiriences shared........im hoping filling up the trans cooler and lines will help it ciculate and fill faster with less dry time......will be watching the time it runs, how much i pour in at a time and how hot it gets........







Thanks everybody for replying to this thread, my mind is more at ease now. i will update everybody to the out come when i get it going......at this point of the rebuild its really close....just trying to make that final push in getting it done.......still around 2 maybe 3 months of every other night and weekends from getting it back on the road.....


Mark...