Is this a big problem? (Bone head move)

[JayDubBlazer]

Hey guys I need some help I really don't have much experience with these things. I reassembled my drive train back in April. When I mated the tranx to the engine I just slid the torque converter on and bolted it up. I never realized that I need to put oil in it until I sat down and started to read the start up procedures for the 700R4. I have started my engine about 10 times since reassemble. I have never let it run for more that 10-20 seconds, mostly because I can't keep it running unless I rev it. Everytime I start it I could hear it whining a bit. At first I thought it was the steering pump.


So now I have these questions...
Would the torque converter whine if it didn't have any oil?
Would not having any oil in the TC cause the engine to die at low RPM's
Did I ruin the torque converter?
Can I just pull it out, fill it with oil and be on my way?

Hope this is enough information. I am going to lift the engine first thing tomorrow, hopefully I still use the TC. There is only a couple of 70 degree days left this year and I haven't had this thing on the road (the back of a trailer is excluded) for two years.

Thanks

[Indyuke]

I've always put them in dry, even with the 700r4 in my truck. I believe the first thing that happens is the pump fills the TC when the truck is started, so it doesn't run very long without fluid in it.

[haysonj]

I've never done a 700R4 but I always put them in dry on the T350 & T400 and haven't had one fail in 30 + years of doing it.

[FormerMember]

Should be fine. It's best to fill the converter, but as most have posted, it's the first thing done. So your converter is filled by now.

You may have taken a bit of life from it, running without lubrication for that couple of seconds the pump took to fill it.

[Hipper]

Did you turn the convertor back and forth and make sure it was ingaged in the pump all the way. The best way to know is if you had to pull it forward about a 1/8 to 1/4 inch when bolting to the flywheel. If you didnt get the converter into the pump all the way that would be the whine. If you are lucky you can spit it from the engine and get it engaged all the way if it hasent chewed up the pump.

[clay68c10]

I bet the whining sound is just the trans needing more fluid. One benefit to filling the tc is that it's less fluid you have to put in thru the stick. I think your trans is just fine.