Inspection of a 904 torqueflite

I haven’t been able to find a good planet set yet. I’ve looked at several places and still am looking for one I know is good. I want to replace it. I’ve even looked at grinding the planets off and replacing them. I’ve looked at countless pictures of them and what they are supposed to look like. I’ve even seen people selling the online in the same shape as mine saying they are good, but I don’t know and if I don’t know then I can’t discern whether to use what I have and it last 30-50k or if it will last 5k and I should have fixed them.

The sets I’ve seen are for newer 904 and I don’t know if they will work with what I have. They have the stepped sun shell. The information on what fits and what doesn’t is all over the place. Some say yes and some say no. Some say they need a 5 disc drum.

Some say in order to run a 5 clutch you need a pump that is cut down. Some say it drops right in with the existing and with so many saying this and that. I just done know. If I can get a better clutch drum for $20 and add another friction even with the parts I have now....it’s just not that much added cost.....but that’s IF it works and I don’t know and there’s not a lot on it. I’ve seen a guy do 5 discs in a drum and the 5th disc just slipped. So I’m like....how does his slip and the other doesn’t.....Transmission are just one of those things people don’t mess with.

Some say the clutch packs are 4/3......and I get in there and see 4/4....so I get caught up in what I’m reading vs what I’m seeing and I’m like damnit.....has someone been inside this thing before adding clutches.....then only to find out that 75-78 they had 4/4 and then I find out there is a 999 and a 998. I’m lost in all the information

This is the first time I’ve done this. I know I sound all over the place, but I promise you the detailed information is where I work best at. It sounds like I over complicate it....and I do sort of.....but it means I’m weighing options and those options do make sense.

Do I go all out or do I put it together and run it. Part of that is based on future plans. I’ve got a turbo 350 blown here as well. Is it worth it to buy a bushing installer for $70 when I know I will need it in the future because that trans is blown and I know the frictions are completely gone. Then I question whether I even need a bushing installer and wonder if my cam bearing installer will work as it really does the same thing. If it will put a bearing in a cast iron block. Surely it wouldn’t have problems with aluminum.

All these little corrections everyone has been doing on here has made a difference. Like saying the waffles are in the forward drum instead of the direct drum and even calling those by the wrong name. I won’t get it wrong twice.

When this transmission goes back in......and I hope I don’t eat my words on this. It will work. Nothing will be missing. The clearances will be in spec and I will have a fairly complete understanding on how it operates and what makes what happen. The second time I do it......there won’t be questions.

But I have to sort through all the information.

I can post many pictures of the gear set. Detailed pictures.

I thank you for being patient with me and even answering anything. It means a lot.