Maybe a dumb questoin, but I'll ask it anyway.

I have my engine and tranny back in, and just wanted to fire up the motor to see if she's gonna start. Do I have to fill the tranny if I'm just going to run the motor - it's going to be in park with no intent to move the vehicle. My thought is, if I'm not going to engage the tranny, it shouldn't need fluid. I have some work to do underneath the vehicle after verifying the engine starts up and runs properly, before needing to worry about the vehicle moving.

Just wanted to be sure it was safe. I figure in park nothing should be moving in the tranny, except for the torque converter.

THanks in advance,

Dave

".....I figure in park nothing should be moving in the tranny, except for the torque converter......."

And the pump. If the tranny was drained, at a minimum drop 3 or 4 quarts in it, before you start it. (Assuming it's a tranny like a TH350/400, TORQUE FLIGHT, C4 ETC).

If your going to run it for any legnth of time such as breaking in the cam, finish filling it as the warms up.

Mike - thanks. So the pump would be damaged if I didn't put the four quarts in?

Good thing I checked with you guys on here.

Dave

Yes, you definitly need to put at least 4 to 6 quarts of fluid in the tranny before firing youe engine, even briefly. The alternative is buying and installing a new pump after everything is assembled, because you won't know that you have damaged it untill you try to drive the car.