After 30+ years turning wrenches on projects this is the first automatic I've ever dealt with.

Situation:
All new parts, including DTT flexplate, TC, billet input shaft, and internals. Also, a high quality seal/gasket set. 1/2" stainless cooler lines, stock Cummins heat exchanger, and 46 plate cooler.

My knowledgeable transmission sources said to fill the trans until it backs up into the dipstick tube, then start dumping qts in ASAP once the engine is running. From what was told to me I expected to only get maybe 6 to 8 qts in.

Today I cracked loose the cooler return line at the trans, put it in Nuetral, and started filling it. 6qts, 8qts, 10qts, and I started wondering if I heard them right about how much I should be able to get in. At 12qts I really climbed around under the truck to see if I was missing a leak somewhere. I had been expecting it to trickle out the cooler return line at the trans and that was even still dry. Quart 13 and now I'm pouring really slow looking under the truck. Before I started on qt 14 I had decided it was going to be the last one I added before confirming the pre-start info I thought I knew. Well, it took most of the qt and all of a sudden I see fluid start hitting the floor FROM THE BELLHOUSING weep hole.

I immediately threw a oil pan under the leak. When all was said and done it stopped leaking after about 3/4 of a qt. It also had just started trickling out of the cooler return line, so I locked that back down.

So, the trans took approx. 13 1/4 qts of fluid.

Please, I really, really hope someone can give me advice or tell me what's going on that doesn't include the words, "You need to pull the trans and replace the front seal." When I installed the TC and mounted the TC to the flexplate everything went smooth as glass, without a hitch. I was EXTREMELY careful when I installed the TC so as not to bugger up the front seal.

Thanks. Resbum

 

A dry RH takes 17 quarts

 

Actually, the 1994 factory manual calls for 15.4 qts. Not really sure what that has to do with the question I asked, but you added another post to your +14,000 post count.

Today I walked into the local Dodge dealer, walked through the Customer Service/Parts Dept., walked through the door into the garage like I had every bit of business doing it, and up to the first mechanic I saw. I asked him if he was the automatic transmission guru and he said, "That would be Dan", who he promptly walked me over to.

I explained everything posted above with the addition that the fluid was running out at about the rate of syrup being poured on pancakes. The fact that only about 3/4 of a qt. came back out and the rate at which it came back out led him to believe, with 98% certainty, that it was coming out of the pump vent. He said to press on and clean the mess out of the bellhousing after I'd run it because a little more is probably going to come out until it fills the TC. So, unless the 2% bites me in the rear, it looks like I dodged a bullet.

Resbum

 

when I upgraded my trans with a new converer and valve body I dumped in 3 gallons then tried to take it for a drive, wouldnt move! Either the pump was still dry or the plates where slipping. Added another gallon and everything is rock and roll, its just above the top mark idleing in park.