Stop in for a cup of coffee

I would research a "tight" converter set up if you are looking at a 3500 stall and have 2.89 gears. No cheap off the shelf converter that will slip constantly. You will be in slip/stall constantly at cruise. Lots of heat build up.

Short of "experience" while it's in the car... any way to assess a TC before install?

I get the physical inspection... teeth, weights, spline...etc. anything else?