Transmission has me pulling my hair out !!!

[englands 71]

TH350 was not pulling in any gear. I took it out and replaced it with a th350 out of a corvette that is supposed to be fairly new. The guy did an LS swap so I bought his th350.
I put the trans in my truck .
Checked it cold and it didn't show any fluid on the stick.
I put a quart in it because I figured it needed at least that to fill all the lines ect.
I cranked it and it let it get warm. Nothing showed on the stick.
I put another quart in and checked it . It was to the add a Pt mark.
I put a pint in and put it in reverse. It pulled great.
Put it in "D" and it would not pull.
Put it in 2nd and would not pull.
Put it in 1st and it pulls great.
I'm a body and paint man of 26 years and when it comes to mechanicing I know enough to know when to call someone else. But I know nothing about a transmission except how to take one out and put one in. Whats the problem ? Is it trash ? Do I need to have a come to Jesus with the guy ?