Mated up the transmission I got for my 87 this afternoon. Huge pain by yourself but its up and bolted together. Got flex plate bolts in etc then when to hook up shifter, and found that I can turn the transmission yoke freely, no matter what gear it's shifted in.

Could this be because the trans has no fluid, or did I not get the torque convertor seated all the way?

Everything bolted up without issue, smooth. hate that I m going to have to drop it again!

Keep in mind, this trans is still bone dry from shipping. but I would think that it would still shift and stop the yoke from turning.

My hunch is that since the transmission is hydraulically driven, and that since it's a pretty simple job to install, you're fine. I installed a new trannynin my Sons 87 last year with no problems at all. It was a brand new, fluid-less job just like yours. However, I had it up on a lift and did not fiddle with the shifter really, so I did not notice and yoke play.

Let us know how it goes!

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1987 300TD named Klause
1987 300TD named Spouse
1987 300D named Seabiscuit
1980 300TD names Chloie (now sadly gone)

I'm paranoid so I pulled it again and verified that the torque converter is fully seated. Will mate it back in the morning. I can turn the torque converter and head it "pumping" what little fluid is still in trans, but trans still acts like it's in neutral.

Will be a couple days (tuesday) before I can fully button it up, I forgot I left the trans mount and the flex disk on the back of my other trans which is still over at the shop, so I'll have to run and pick it up.

That all said, this seems like a fairly low mile trans, not sure of it's actual mi;es, but the bolts all look new, still have the gold shine to them, even the bell housing was fairly clean, not clean in someone cleaned it either.

Does the yoke turn freely even in Park (P)? If so, there may be some faults.

Even with a completely filled, operational transmission, if the engine, and therefore the pump, are not running, all driving positions and neutral, will allow the yoke to turn freely.

The parking pawl should lock up the trans gearing behind the torque converter. If the trans is shifted into Park, the yoke should not be able to turn. Fluid or not, it shouldn't turn. The torque converter will be able to turn no matter what.

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'84 190D 2.2 5MT (Red/Palomino) Current car. Love it!
'85 190D 2.2 Auto *Cali* (Blue/Blue) *sold*
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Perfect.

So I was not pulling it back enough to engage park. Once I did, it was fine.

Everything is basically done, just need to get trans mount, etc off my old trans and fill it with fluid and it should be ready to drive.

You might already know this, but when you go to fill it with fluid, don't put the whole capacity in at once. If you do, it'll puke out the vent all over your floor and you'll be pissed. Once you're all ready to start it up and all that's left is to fill it up with ATF, put in a few quarts and start the engine for 5 or 10 seconds and shut it back off. Then add a few more quarts. The first time you start it, it'll suck the first couple quarts and fill the torque converter. Eventually you'll have all the fluid in all the proper places.

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'84 190D 2.2 5MT (Red/Palomino) Current car. Love it!
'85 190D 2.2 Auto *Cali* (Blue/Blue) *sold*
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http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...0/sideview.png

Thanks!, there is very little left in the TQ, I believe I need to add a total of 7 quarts to the system.