Man... has it been 2 years already

[Geno]

What's up guys and girls. I guess I've been busy for a while because when I went to log in I couldn't remember my password so I had to do the "forgotten your password?"thing. Anyways, I'm having I lot of bad luck lately with my baby. Not mentioning 1 year and a half ago while showing off spinning my tires I lost control and hit an abandoned truck before hitting the abandoned house it was park in front of ( totally munching my left bed) I had a transmission break down recently. After getting the tranny rebuilt, new torque converter, a new battery, new flywheel, a new starter, new battery cables, THEN (because it sat so long) I had to have my carb rebuilt. WHEW! Well I finally went to drive it out of storage, started it up, put in gear then...NOTHING! The truck never sounded so good but it wouldn't inguage in any gears. It didn't click or nothing. Yes the lingage is connected and everything seem to be inplace however, since I dindn't have the money a "Backyard Mechcanic/Laborer" itstalled it for me and he broke the dipstick and had some "Extra bolts" left over. MY question is would a lack of tranny fluid be a possible cause to this problem. I only added 5 quarts and until I find a replacement dipstick I don't want to chance ruining my new trans.

[Longhorn Man]

5 quarts on a fresh rebuild?
If it was dry, you are only about 1/2 way there... I'm thinking a TH350 needs either 8 or 10 quarts... I'm pretty sure 10.

[Bishops Trucks]

Do you know if he poured some in the torque converter before he installed it. You do need more fluid in the trans.

[Geno]

I'm not sure on the torque converter. Would that cause it not to shift into any gears?

[Bishops Trucks]

Yes, That just adds to your problems. You need to add atleast 4 more quarts if all you have is 5 in there now.

[Geno]

How come if it's low it won't enguage in any gears. I don't mean it won't move when shifting, I mean it won't even enguage into any gear

[glock35ipsc]

Well, hydraulic transmissions need hydraulic fluid to....... you need more Dexron, or a new tranny.

[drman929]

Yep, I just went through the same thing. I thought that the linkage wasn't engaging the tranny...but I was way low on fluid. Top it off and I bet it'll be good to go.

[Geno]

Cool! thanks bro.

[jorgensensc]

Same thing here on a fresh 2004r. I put in 4 quarts. Torque converter was full. Dipstick Showed Fulll. Wouldn't go in gear.Put it up on blocks, put it in reverse and fill more. Took me 8 quarts total not including the torque converter (already full).

[stllookn]

I hope those extra bolts were not from the torque converter/flex plate connection...LOL...you will know once you get enough oil in it.

[O2Bsogood]

I just put my rebuilt th350 and new stall in last night. I put 10 quarts in it and it's just now barely showing on the dipstick, I'll get a few more quarts when I run to town later. To fill the converter and the trans both, I think I'm going to need somewhere between 2-4 more quarts, so somewhere between 12-14 quarts. But yeah like everyone else said, being too low on fluid will not let it shift. With the rear wheels off the ground, start the truck, put it in neutral and add fluid until the level is between add and full. Then go thru all the gears, make sure you stop the back wheels before shifting back into or out of reverse, then put it back in neutral and check it again.

[Geno]

Cool.. From what you guys have experinced it seems I'll be rollin tomorrow. One question though. What is the purpose of lifting the rear wheels off the ground.

[dave2953]

It isn't necessary to have the rear wheels off the ground. He probably did that to keep the truck from moving while in neutral. You could just use your e-brake if so equipped, then go through the gears and check the fluid level.

[Longhorn Man]

I was gonna coment on that... there is no reason to lift, or even move the vehicle... fill, go through the gears, pausing in every one, then go back up through the gears, again, pausing in each selection, and check.