Inspection of a 904 torqueflite

When I measured the gear train end play. I put the gear train together with the appropriate snap ring. THen held it upside down and measured the gap between the rear ring gear and the output shaft.
With the .087 snap ring I got not even .008 clearance. My feeler gauge set wouldn’t go smaller than that. So I put the .065 ring in and got .030

There might be .001 or .002 variation in there but I can see that with the .085 snap ring it’s too tight.

The torque specs on the bands.
They didn’t match up. I tightened Dow the rear band to 72 inch pounds and then backed off the required number of turns. The band was still tight when done to spec. It took another 1/2 to get it to move.

So when I went to tighten down the kickdown band. There was no socket I had that fit the adjustment bolt. So I looked online at some of the people on here and did it by how it turned.

Tighten it down....loosen it till it just turns and then back out 1/2 turn.

The clutch pack was air checked at one point. I don’t remember the spec. This was also done with no fluid soaked into them like it had now.

My air compressor took a dive so I have not been able to apply test them after putting it together the second time.

When testing total end play. I put a dial indicator on the input shaft and move it back and forth by hand.
It’s hard to even get an accurate reading because the trans is so tight. I can see that it’s close to 10-15 thousandths. This is with the bands adjusted loose to allow max end play with no resistance.

The transmission turns fine with the torque converter and a pair of pliers but is pretty hard to turn by hand....and it would be because all that’s in it is transgoo and some fluid mixed in.

I’m on the fence on whether it’s ok or not. It’s my first one and I’ve never seen a new transmission or a rebuilt one.

The 904 turned out the same way....but it would because I built them the same.

The 700r4 I have seems more what I see as normal....but it’s worn in. The other 700 I have is tight and looks like it has a new pump so I know someone had been in there.....but the fluid smells burned.
I’ve been buying parts for that one for a rebuilt to try to make it last longer and research to set the tv correctly....but that’s another story.