Alright, so I bought a 96 Outback with 2.5 L engine and 130 k miles on it, to my dismay I quickly discovered a bad headgasket and replaced it. When I put the engine back in, it ran great, then I tried to put it in gear... Nothing. After some effort and time I figured out I didn't prime the Torque converter! (rookie mistake, I know) SO I tore the whole thing back apart again and primed the torque converter, got it seated, put the engine back in, and now it drives! YAY! But here's the rub: any time the engine is turned on, the transmission does not engage until I rev it up to about 3-4000 RPM, then it *grabs* and drives fine until the engine is shut off again. The fluid level reads crazily HIGH until I get the TC to *grab* then it reads at the correct level. From what I've read it COULD be transmission drainback, so where is the anti-drainback valve on these models?
Some other information that may not apply:
I am leaking a bit of tranny fluid from the torque converter area, not severe, but surely there.
In diagnosing my empty TC, I did a full tranny flush with aftermarket fluid.
I have found more metal shavings than I would have liked in the process of all this.
During the HG job, I had help who almost attempted close the gap between the engine and the bell housing by tightening the bolts, he started to, but I stopped him before he got too far and we got the oil pump tube thing seated so that it all went together peacefully, but I have since been concerned that we damaged the tranny's oil pump that day, and that mistake may come back to bite me
I am not sure just yet, but I think I am getting terrible gas milage.
I am driving it for now, but don't want to let this go on too long, thanks all!